August 3, 2023 – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Pfizer and BD announced the expansion of their nearly decade-long collaboration. The expanded collaboration is expected to deliver more than 320 million doses of Pfizer’s injectable contraceptive, Sayana® Press (medroxyprogesterone acetate)1 administered by BD Uniject™ Auto-Disable Prefillable Injection System, through 2030. The update allows for increased manufacturing capacity and also sees an additional 23 eligible countries added to the program.
Poor access to contraceptives presents a significant burden for women living in low- and middle-income countries. According to a 2022 study, one in 14 women worldwide who want to use contraceptives cannot access them. This amounts to an unmet need of 162 million women, the majority of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The collaboration is an extension of a partnership that first began in 2014. Under the agreement, Pfizer will begin work to increase manufacturing capacity by 65%. The partners also agreed to increase the number of countries covered under the partnership from 69 to 92 countries that will include all low- and lower-middle income countries as well as several upper-middle income countries as defined by the World Bank. The previously guaranteed pricing of $0.85 per unit for the standard presentation will be maintained for public sector purchasers in low- and lower-middle income countries.