The 1984 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three scientists, Niels K. Jerne, Georges J.F. Köhler and César Milstein "for theories concerning the specificity in development and control of the immune system and the discovery of the principle for production of monoclonal antibodies."

The discovery of monoclonal antibody production revolutionized treatment for cancers, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases. The first monoclonal antibody was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) in 1986.

With this approval for use of monoclonal antibodies in humans, a new ray of hope brightened millions of lives across the world. These were the lives of patients suffering from cancer and deadly infectious diseases. With the advent of monoclonal antibodies, these lives would be saved. But this is not a universal statement.

The problem

Today, monoclonal antibody treatments are costly and available only to individuals and countries that can afford them. More than 40% of biosimilars were subject to price increases of 100% or more in recent years. Unfortunately, most patients in low-and-middle-income- countries (LMICs) and in most African nations cannot access and afford these treatments in their home countries.

Millions of lives in Africa and other LMICs continue to be lost from treatable cancers and infectious diseases despite the availability of safe and effective treatments. Even biosimilars – which are supposed to offer lower price options – are only lower in price by about 25% compared to generics, which are lower in price by up to 90%.

It makes biosimilars unaffordable to many. This was a situation that one of the co-discoverers of monoclonal antibodies, César Milstein, had cautioned about. He had warned that "science will only fulfil its promises when the benefits are equally shared by the really poor of the world."

The solution

This inequity can, shall and must change. The change will come in the form of safe and effective monoclonal antibodies that are available, accessible and affordable for people living in Africa. Africans suffering from cancer and infectious diseases must have equal opportunity to life as people living in wealthy nations.

For monoclonal antibodies to be available, accessible and sustainable at low costs, three conditions must be met: