Promoting access to biosimilars: a public private partnership model for biosimilar development in underserved populations

Biologicals represent the future of pharmaceutical treatments and innovation. Yet, emerging and developing markets lack access to these often essential medicines. Biosimilar development represents a potential solution to this problem, by offering lower cost and improved access, but is also associated with patient safety issues. In order to synergize these divergent challenges, targeted public private partnerships that bring together shared goals and resources of the public sector, global firms, and local manufacturers need to be explored. Crucial to their success will be equitable intellectual property rights management and coordination and collaboration with effective governance and incentives.