ACCESS and affordability
Access to healthcare
Our approach
Camurus aims to improve access to effective and convenient treatments for patients with severe and chronic diseases, such as opioid dependence and rare diseases. The goal is to increase access to treatments to potentially improve quality of life for as many people as possible. Camurus aims to achieve this goal by focusing on:
Access to treatment for more patients with opioid dependence
Camurus has developed a long-acting buprenorphine injection depot indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence – within a framework of medical, social and psychological treatment – which is currently approved in the EU, UK, Australia and several countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2023, the treatment was also approved in the US where it is licensed to Camurus’ partner Braeburn.
Opioid dependence is an escalating global health problem which contributes to significant adverse mental, physical, and social consequences, including unemployment, criminal activity, imprisonment, transmission of infectious diseases, unintentional overdose and death.1 It is a disease impacting all aspects of a person’s daily life and is often associated with high social stigma and social exclusion.1,2
At the end of 2022, Camurus’ long-acting treatment for opioid dependence was available in 20 countries within Europe, Australia, the Middle East and North Africa with more than 36,000 patients estimated to be in treatment at the end of the year. Camurus is aiming for over 100,000 patients in treatment in 2026.
Access, affordability, and pricing
Camurus is committed to working with addiction services and partners to help reduce misuse and diversion as well as overdose linked to illicit drug use.
The need for new treatment options is moving up the political agenda, leading to increased funding and improved access to treatment of opioid dependence in some countries, such as in England, Scotland and Wales.3-6 Furthermore, in Australia4, Sweden and Belgium, national guidelines have been updated to expand treatment options available to patients with opioid dependence in prison settings.
Camurus has collaborated with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to support access to treatment for people with opioid dependence in Ukraine (see case study below).
2.1 million
SEKin support to patient organizations in 2022*
0.5 billion
SEKinvested in research and development in 2022*
*as at end December 2022, source: Annual Report 2022
Increasing knowledge and awareness, and reducing stigma
An important step to increase access to healthcare is to raise disease awareness and reduce potential stigma for those affected. Camurus supports and collaborates with healthcare and patient organizations to increase knowledge about serious and rare diseases. This work is conducted within the framework of the EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) guidelines. For more information on Camurus’ provision of grants and donations to healthcare and patient organizations, see Camurus’ transparency reporting
Camurus conducts activities each year aimed at raising awareness and reducing stigma by supporting international campaigns, such as the Rare Disease Day, Take on Addiction, International Overdose Awareness Day, World Acromegaly Day and World NET Cancer Day. The company also supports initiatives focused on reducing stigma and improving access to treatment for women with opioid dependence – an underrepresented group in treatment programs. For example, in 2023 Camurus supported the campaign “A gateway within all women’s reach”, organized by the non-governmental, not-for-profit organization Dianova International, aimed at reducing stigma and improving women's access and adherence to addiction services.
Throughout the year, Camurus actively participates in leading international medical congresses to exchange knowledge and experiences with the aim of improving access and care for patients.
Developing new innovative medicines for diseases with high unmet medical need
Camurus has a broad and diversified pipeline with product candidates targeting diseases with high unmet medical needs. For some, such as symptomatic polycystic liver disease, there is currently no approved pharmacological treatment available in the EU or US.
In 2022, Camurus invested half a billion SEK in its research and development pipeline to bring forward new innovative treatments for diseases in the focus areas of central nervous system (CNS), rare diseases, oncology and supportive care.
In 2022, Camurus received a request from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to support Ukrainian patients in need of treatment. After discussions between Camurus and the Ministry, Ukrainian healthcare providers and patient representatives, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), a decision was made to donate product to Ukraine. After the donation reached Ukraine, Camurus’ medical team conducted training for healthcare professionals in Ukraine in the use of the company’s long-acting treatment.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/stigma/
- Dematteis, M., et al. Recommendations for buprenorphine and methadone therapy in opioid use disorder: a European consensus. Expert Opin Pharmacother. Dec;18(18):1987-1999, 2017.
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1079147/From_harm_to_hope_PDF.pdf
- https://www.gov.scot/news/drug-related-death-statistics-2020/
- https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-10/substance-misuse-delivery-plan-2019-22.pdf
- Scott, R., et al. Australian Psychiatry. 2022; 30(4): 498-502