Axios – Axios International

Accelerating Sustainable Treatment Initiation with Axios’ On-Time Access (OTA) Solution

Posted on August 6, 2025August 6, 2025 by Axios

When it comes to access to healthcare, affordability is only part of the equation. At Axios International, we’ve spent over 28 years supporting patients through Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), helping nearly 10 million people across 100+ countries access the treatment they need. But over the years, we’ve seen a recurring challenge: even when financial support is available, patients may still encounter obstacles that delay treatment initiation – and those delays can have serious consequences for medical outcomes.

To overcome these critical barriers, Axios International developed On-Time Access (OTA), a new solution that complements Axios-managed PAPs by not only improving affordability but also ensuring patients can begin treatment without delay and stay on treatment.

What happens if the financial support provided by the PAP is not sufficient?

In Axios-managed PAPs, patients receive a personalized plan that outlines how much of their treatment cost will be covered and what portion, if any, they need to contribute. The level of financial support received by each patient is based on their financial capacity, as assessed through Axios’ proprietary, validated Patient Financial Eligibility Tool (PFET).

The Solution: On-Time Access (OTA)

OTA is an innovative, value-added service offered to patients enrolled in existing Axios-managed PAPs that ensures no one is held back from starting treatment due to cash flow challenges or reimbursements delays.

OTA offers several models to help patients who require additional support starting their prescribed treatment:

Cash Gap Support: For patients who can afford their share of the treatment cost but are waiting for funds or reimbursement, OTA offers zero-interest support. Patients borrow funds at zero interest to receive the medicine now and repay once funds are available via a personalized plan, without hidden costs.

Partial Contribution Assistance: For patients who cannot afford their share of the treatment cost, OTA can provide additional financial support to cover their share and start treatment right away.

OTA models are fully compliant with local legal and regulatory obligations and offer a built-in calculated risk for all funding partners with no surprises. These strong control measures ensure access programs using OTA remain sustainable and effective in helping patients achieve optimal medical outcomes.

OTA in Action
As of June 2025, OTA has been implemented across 7 countries and has supported 5,000+ patients in accessing high-value specialty medicines.

Program Highlight

OTA has been integrated into an Axios-managed Patient Assistance Program for an immunology treatment in Egypt, and is delivering the following results:

Faster Treatment Initiation
Patients enrolled in the program were able to get their medication within one week of program enrollment.

High Physician and Patient Acceptance
More than 1,500 patients – who could not previously access appropriate treatment options – have been referred to this program since its launch.

Enhanced Adherence to Treatment
92% of patients remain on treatment without any interruptions. Only 8% of patients discontinued treatment, primarily due to factors beyond their control, not financial barriers.

Optimized PAP Scalability and Sustainability
Given the program’s success in Egypt, OTA has been expanded to Kenya, Malaysia, and Thailand.

By bridging the gap between affordability and timely access, OTA is setting a new standard for patient-centered access solutions.

Why Traditional Access Models Don’t Work for Rare Diseases, And What Needs to Change

Posted on August 6, 2025August 6, 2025 by Axios

When most people hear “rare disease,” they imagine something extremely uncommon, perhaps affecting only a handful of people worldwide. But the reality tells a different story. According to Rare Disease International, there are between 6,000 and 8,000 known rare diseases, impacting an estimated 300 million people globally. That’s more than the population of the United States.

Yet despite affecting millions, rare diseases remain underserved when it comes to treatment access. That’s because traditional pharmaceutical access models simply weren’t built for the unique challenges rare diseases present.

The Problem with Traditional Access Models

Conventional access pathways are often designed for high-volume treatments. In rare diseases, the opposite is true and that changes everything. Challenges include:

Small patient populations – rare diseases often affect less than 2,000 people.
High-cost, low volume therapies with few or no alternatives – putting immense pressure on pricing, reimbursement, and sustainability.
Complex local registration and distribution processes – which can slow or even block treatment availability entirely.

In this environment, models that prioritize volume, broad distribution, and standard market-entry timelines simply don’t work.

What Rare Disease Access Requires

An effective rare disease access strategy must be built for complexity and sustainability from the start. That means:

Enabling patients to access their full course of treatment, not just a few boxes.
Collaborating directly with local hospitals and providers to navigate product registration and supply chain obstacles.
Engaging regulators, payers, and distributors early to address requirements and ensure long-term access.
Creating win-win solutions that meet the needs of all stakeholders, from pharmaceutical companies to patients and caregivers.

The path forward: The next frontier in rare disease innovation isn’t just discovery—it’s delivery

As more rare disease therapies enter pharmaceutical pipelines, access models must evolve. Success will depend on shifting the focus from volume to patient-centered models that will enable these innovations to reach the greatest number of people.

To make that happen, the path forward is clear:

Prioritize patient need, not volume.
Design sustainable, flexible access pathways.
Anticipate local regulatory and supply chain barriers. Don’t wait to react, plan ahead.
Make innovation accessible, no matter how rare the condition.

Rare diseases may be individually uncommon, but together they represent a significant global health challenge. It’s time for access models that recognize that reality, because in rare disease, getting access right isn’t just about business. After all, what’s the purpose of innovation if it doesn’t reach the people it was intended for?

Rare Disease Care and Treatment in Mexico: An Evolving Landscape

Posted on May 19, 2025May 19, 2025 by Axios

In Mexico, it is estimated that between eight and 10 million people live with a rare disease (RD), consistent with the global estimate of 6-8% of the population.¹ The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that there are currently more than 7,000 described rare disease diagnoses, which are often difficult to diagnose and treat, particularly because 70% of them manifest in childhood and more than 95% still lack specific therapies.¹ This global reality underscores the urgent need to address local disparities in rare disease care and treatment, as each lost year can lead to poor health outcomes and financial hardship for families.

The good news is that the pharmaceutical pipeline for rare diseases is significant, and Mexico has adopted mechanisms to accelerate the development and approval of treatments for rare diseases, including a regulatory pathway for orphan drug designation._²

Advancements in Rare Disease Diagnosis and Treatment in Mexico

In recent years, Mexico has made significant progress in enhancing access to rare disease diagnosis and treatment through regulatory and clinical advancements that align with international standards. Yet, considerable work is still needed to ensure these advancements reach all patients who need them.

The Mexican Congress recently began an initiative to help collect necessary data to develop evidence-based policies for rare diseases, establishing a National Registry of Rare Diseases. Furthermore, the Rare Disease Diagnostic Unit at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has reduced the diagnostic process for hundreds of families to less than two years using telemedicine, genomic sequencing, and the expanded neonatal screening program, which covers 65 conditions.²

“Although the health system has improved, some patients still wait years for a diagnosis. Early intervention would make all the difference,” says Juana Inés Navarrete Martínez, a geneticist and the coordinator of the Department of Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine of UNAM. On average, the ‘diagnostic odyssey’ lasts four to eight years, requiring patients to visit up to eight specialists.³

When it comes to treatment, Cofepris, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks—Mexico’s central regulatory authority—has granted orphan status to 96 medicines and minimized authorization time to an average of six months.⁴ Despite this momentum, many of these orphan-designated medicines do not appear in the basic tables of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), or IMSS-Bienestar. They are also largely not covered by private insurance, leaving many families with no choice but to pay out-of-pocket – or, as is often the case, go without treatment all together.

Given the high cost of many rare disease treatments, improving access to treatment for both insured, uninsured or underinsured patients, remains a critical priority.

“Patient Access Programs, such as those designed by Axios International, can help provide sustainable models to help patients access the treatment they need for the long term. These programs have benefited thousands of patients in 40+ countries around the world, including Mexico,” says Silvia Méndez, Axios International’s Regional Operations Lead in Mexico. “It’s important that we explore how to scale these programs to be able to reach more rare disease patients in Mexico.”

Dr. Navarrete Martínez adds: “These programs for patients are very important because they make invisible diseases visible. Organized patients help put these diseases on the radar.”

What The Future Holds

As Mexico continues to strengthen its approach to rare disease care, collaboration across sectors will be key to building a more inclusive and effective healthcare system. Policymakers, healthcare providers, patient advocates, and industry leaders must work together to advance diagnostics, streamline regulatory pathways, and implement sustainable access models.

By prioritizing rare disease patients and investing in long-term solutions, Mexico can lead the way in transforming rare disease care, not just as a national imperative, but as a model for other emerging economies striving to do the same.

Sources

¹ World Health Organization. Rare Diseases: A Global Health Priority. Geneva: WHO; 2025.
2 Grand View Research. Mexico Clinical Trials Market Size & Outlook, 2023–2030. Grand View Research; 2023.
³ El Economista. Challenges of RRS diagnosis. El Economista. February 17, 2024.
⁴ El Economista. Cofepris recognizes 96 orphan drugs. El Economista. March 2, 2024.
⁵Government of Mexico. Press release 004. Mexico City: Coordinación de Salud Global; June 30, 2023.

How Personalized Support Improves Chronic Disease Medication Adherence

Posted on May 14, 2025May 16, 2025 by Axios

13 May, 2025

WHY DO SOME PATIENTS STAY ON TREATMENT WHILE OTHERS DROP OFF?

When a patient is newly diagnosed with a chronic condition, such as heart failure or asthma, they often begin treatment with the best intentions. But many discontinue within just a few months. Why?

A new peer-reviewed study by Axios International, published in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, explores this question using real-world insights from our programs in the UAE to help shape more effective, personalized adherence strategies.

REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE: KEY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE ADHERENCE

This study followed patients newly diagnosed with one of five chronic diseases—ankylosing spondylitis, heart failure, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, or asthma—for at least 12 months. Using real-world data collected through Axios’ Patient Needs Assessment Tool (PNAT), researchers were able to analyze the key predictors of sustained treatment versus early discontinuation. PNAT is a proprietary tool developed by Axios to identify the risk factors most likely to impact long-term adherence in chronic disease care and determines the most effective adherence interventions based on his/her identified risk factors. (Read more about PNAT here.)

IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Study findings highlight the importance of personalizing adherence interventions to help patients stay on treatment and achieve better medical outcomes. Tools like Axios’ PNAT can help identify at-risk patients early and inform the development of targeted interventions that directly address the medical, behavioral, emotional, and social barriers to adherence. With the right tools and personalized approaches, we can support patients not only to begin care, but to sustain it over time to achieve optimal medical outcomes.

Read the full article: Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research
Learn more about PNAT: Axios PNAT Tool

The Role of Digital Healthcare in Providing Holistic Support Solutions Beyond the Hospital Setting in Malaysia

Posted on October 10, 2022September 17, 2024 by Axios

“Malaysia, with regards to healthcare overall, is ahead of the game. Digital healthcare has been a strategic priority for them since the start,” says Roshel Jayasundera, Senior Director, Global Consulting.

Listen to learn more from our latest digital conference hosted in Malaysia titled, ‘The Role of Digital Healthcare in Providing Holistic Support Solutions Beyond the Hospital Setting.’

Join Roshel and Director of Digital Health, Raphael Itah, as they speak to Audrey Raj, host of the Business Station, BFM 89.9 in Malaysia, about the why digital healthcare is so crucial in Malaysia, and around the world, and how it can improve treatment outcomes.

Leveraging Technology in the Connected Health Era

Posted on October 7, 2022August 14, 2023 by Axios

With hundreds of healthcare leaders in attendance, we had a great time learning and sharing our insights during this week’s ASEAN HEALTHCARE TRANSFORMATION SUMMIT 2022 in Malaysia. Our Senior Director, Global Consulting, Roshel Jayasundera, and Director of Digital, Raphael Itah, shared learnings from our Patient Support Programs in Asia on leveraging technology in the connected health era.

We look forward to working with clients and partners across the region to help transform their approach to access and care delivery through digitalization.

Click here to download a report on digital trends in healthcare access.

Axios Shares Insights on Access Best Practices at ISPOR Saudi Arabia

Posted on October 7, 2022August 10, 2023 by Axios

Our Senior Director, Greater MENA, Anas Nofal joined an esteemed panel of experts at ISPOR SAUDI ARABIA to discuss the value of Patient Support Programs (PSPs) in driving positive medical outcomes for patients.

Anas shared learnings from our PSPs across the MENA region on how such programs can be used to enable patient and system-level cost savings, while improving medical outcomes.

The session was moderated by Dr. Abdullah Alanazi, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, and Director of the Health Sciences Research Unit at Al-Jouf University in Saudi Arabia.

Visit https://ispor-saudi.com/ for more information.

Axios Celebrates 25 Years

Posted on October 7, 2022September 17, 2024 by Axios

Our History

Axios was formed in 1997 by an entrepreneurial group of health experts who believed that patients deserved better. They shared a unique vision of an organization that would bring the distinct needs of the private and public sectors together to transform conventional access to healthcare models. And that’s exactly what we did.

At the peak of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Axios founders designed and launched an unprecedented antiretroviral (ARV) access program at a time when access to quality medications in developing countries was unheard-of. Soon after, we launched the world’s first access programs for cancer medications.

Our early programs gave millions of patients access to critical, life-saving medications and opened the world’s eyes to the feasibility of alternative, more effective access models. 25 years later, Axios continues to break new ground in the design and implementation of access to healthcare solutions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Europe.

The Future of Access

There remains much uncharted territory to navigate and new opportunities to explore to improve patient access. As we look ahead to the next 25 years, we felt it was important to ensure that our brand reflected our learnings from the past two decades and served as a guide for the road ahead. That is why today Axios unveils a new logo. The globe in our new logo represents what we feel is needed to continue to improve access to healthcare for patients all around the world: Access is not a one-off solution. Sustainable access is multi-dimensional and built by addressing the needs of all involved stakeholders. The globe in our new logo represents the building blocks of sustainable access solutions.

Sustainable access solutions must:

Blue: Support financial sustainability
Orange: Drive patient outcomes
Green: Enable health system and policy improvements

We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our clients and partners to put quality care and treatment within reach so that all people can achieve better health.

Axios and Dar Al Ber Society Announce Access Focused Pharmacy

Posted on September 22, 2022October 10, 2022 by Axios

Axios International and Dar Al Ber Society announce the successful opening of Abwab Al Khair Pharmacy on Sunday, June 26 – the first of its kind in the UAE that primarily focuses on improving patient access to medication for chronic diseases and an ecosystem to new resources of fund for charity. The pharmacy will serve as the approved pharmacy for Patient Access Programs (PAP) dispensers and will be available for all charities who wish to support patients.

The establishment will be supported by our partners in the government, the private sector and various charities to address the needs of our patients and the community.

Proceeds from the pharmacy will be donated to the Dar Al Ber fund permanently, dedicated towards Dar Al Ber charitable work – a unique establishment integrating a new concept. Donations will be given to a pharmacy focusing on the theme of the community.

Thank you to our partners, for their multi-sectoral collaboration in bridging healthcare access to patients.

Axios Convenes Access Leaders during DUPHAT 2022 in Dubai

Posted on September 17, 2022September 17, 2024 by Axios

Each Patient Is Unique. Join Us In Taking Action To Optimize The Patient Journey.

The ‘one size fits all’ approach to patient access is one of the past. Each patient is different, and that means each one has their own unique challenges. By understanding the patient journey – from the moment where they experience symptoms all the way until they stop treatment – and the different factors that could affect their decisions along the way, we can ensure that they both access and stay on treatment. The need for more innovative patient-centric access approaches is greater than ever, especially as the pandemic continues to affect patients’ lives and the healthcare system. We can only move forward together and that’s why it’s so important for different stakeholders to come together to learn and educate others.

That is exactly what will be happening at this year’s Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition (DUPHAT), one of the biggest annual pharmaceutical events in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Axios International has partnered with the organizers of DUPHAT to hold a two-day multi-stakeholder symposium where top experts and key decision makers will share their insights and experiences on understanding and optimizing the patient journey to ensure optimum health outcomes. The symposium will include more than 25 speakers from various healthcare-related backgrounds.

The sessions will provide hands-on, practical insights for all stakeholders working in healthcare-related fields. You can expect to:

Learn about the patient journey needs and challenges from different perspective
Understand the value and impact of understanding the patient journey
Know how to identify patient needs and challenges
Discover the available personalized services that increase access and adherence to treatment
Find out the roles of different stakeholders in the patient journey
Learn how to optimize the patient journey
Hear exclusive announcements on new initiatives being launched in the region

Visit us at stand number 3A30 or join us virtually. Registration now closed.

Author: Axios