AMSTERDAM, June 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, Japanese pharmaceutical companies were ranked with their U.S. and European counterparts on a global Index comparing companies' efforts to make medicines available to the people in developing countries. Overall, European drug companies are leading in this area, according to the second Access to Medicine Index released today.

Compared to 2008, when the first Index was published, pharma companies worldwide gave more insight into their policies and actions to increase people's access to medicines in low-income countries, researchers said in a report underpinning the new Index. They identified more industry initiatives than two years ago, but also see room for improvement.

The Index 2010 reveals important progress, if only because companies have shown far greater willingness to open up. The Index shows great improvements, especially in the areas of research and development, and equitable pricing. At the same time, it shows that the industry as a whole still has a long way to go, said Wim Leereveld, the Index's founder.

The Access to Medicines Index independently assesses how individual pharmaceutical companies perform in promoting universal access to essential medicines, and is thus an important tool in improving performance, said Dr Carissa Etienne, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Access to Medicine Index ranks 20 of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to make sure that medicines are made for, and reach, people in developing countries. The Index encourages drug companies to compete and offers investors and others a way to compare their social responsibility records.

The Access to Medicine Index 2010 identifies GlaxoSmithKline (U.K.) as current industry leader in making drugs and vaccines more accessible. Following in its footsteps are Merck Co. (U.S.), Novartis (Switzerland), Gilead Sciences (U.S.), and Sanofi-Aventis (France).

In the Index 2010, six of the ten highest-ranking originator companies are based in Europe. Japanese companies Eisai, Takeda, Astellas and Daiichi Sankyo rank near the bottom.

Generic drug makers are ranked separately from originator companies. Ranbaxy Laboratories (India) and Cipla (India) top the generics companies ranking.

SOURCE: Access to Medicine Index

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