Local production of medical technologies and its effect on access in low and middle income countries: a systematic review of the literature

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the existing theoretical and empirical literature examining the link between "local production" of pharmaceuticals and medical devices and increased local access to these products. Our preliminary hypothesis is that studies showing a robust relationship between local production and access to medical products are sparse, at best. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted using a wide variety of databases and search terms intending to capture as many different aspects of this issue as possible. The results of the search were reviewed and categorized according to their relevance to the research question. The literature was also reviewed to determine the rigor used to examine the effects of local production and what implications these experiences hold for other developing countries. Results: Literature addressing the benefits of local production and the link between it and access to medical products is sparse, mainly descriptive and lacking empirical evidence. Of the literature we reviewed that addressed comparative economics and strategic planning of multinational and domestic firms, there are few dealing with emerging markets and lower-middle income countries and even fewer that compare local biomedical producers with multinational corporations in terms of a reasonable metric. What comparisons exist mainly relate to prices of local versus foreign/multinational produced medicines. Conclusions: An assessment of the existing theoretical and empirical literature examining the link between "local production" of pharmaceuticals and medical devices and increased local access to these products reveals a paucity of literature explicitly dealing with this issue. Of the literature that does exist, methods used to date are insufficient to prove a robust relationship between local production of medical products and access to these products. There are mixed messages from various studies, and although the studies may correctly depict specific situations in specific countries with reference to specific products, such evidence cannot be generalized. Our review strongly supports the need for further research in understanding the dynamic link between local production and access to medical product

Exploring the Synthesis and Characterization of Fac-re(co)3l Complexes Using Diethylenetriamine Derivative Functionalized at the Central Nitrogen

The aim of this research is to develop new rhenium complexes with favorable bio-distribution properties which can be used as radiometal complexes or for conjugation with biomolecules for the development of targeted radiolabelled biopharmaceuticals. Two metals of interest utilized in radiopharmaceuticals are technetium and rhenium, both of which share similar chemical and structural properties. The coordination chemistry of these metals is highly dependent upon ligands that are structurally and chemically robust among other factors. The synthesis of new symmetrical tridentate ligands and ligand conjugation methods will expand the likelihood of developing suitable fac-[Re(CO)3L]n compounds with promising biomedical properties and were consequently the subject of this investigation. In order to accomplish this, the design, synthesis, characterization and X-ray structure of new water-soluble rhenium complexes for assessing metal binding to biomolecules were investigated. Three diethylenetriamine (dien) derivatives, 2-(bis(2-aminoethyl)amino)-N-(2-oxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromen-7-yl)acetamide (atfcdien, 3), 2-(bis(2-aminoethyl)amino)-N-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)acetamide (tfmedien, 6), and N-benzyl-2-(bis(2-aminomethyl)amino)acetamide (badien, 9) and their rhenium complexes were synthesized. 1H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography techniques were employed to characterize the ligands and their rhenium complexes [Re(CO)3atfcdien]Br (10), [Re(CO)3tfmedien]Br (11) and [Re(CO)3badien]Br (12). 1H NMR studies were conducted to examine chelated Re complexes revealed a consistent downfield shift of the CH signal of the dien moiety for all three new ligands