Global Access to <scp>IMD</scp> Drugs: Bridging the Gap Between High‐Income Countries and Latin America

People living with inborn errors of metabolism (inherited metabolic diseases, IMDs) rely on lifesaving orphan drugs-therapies often developed and available primarily in high-income countries. Yet in many low- and middle-income regions, especially Latin America, patients face stark inequities in access. While an estimated 300 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, most Latin American countries until recently had little to no rare disease policy infrastructure [1]. This perspective highlights the disparity in IMD drug access between wealthy nations and Latin America (with Chile as a case in point), examines the ethical imperatives for equitable and timely access, and explores barriers and potential policy solutions to ensure no patient is left behind.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease
Published
2026-02-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/jimd.70152
Primary Topic
Genomics and Rare Diseases
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Global Access to IMD Drugs: Bridging the Gap Between High‐Income Countries and Latin America

Rodrigo Salinas, Juan Francisco Cabello
Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease
Genomics and Rare Diseases
article

Global Access to IMD Drugs: Bridging the Gap Between High‐Income Countries and Latin America

Rodrigo Salinas, Juan Francisco Cabello
article en

Abstract

People living with inborn errors of metabolism (inherited metabolic diseases, IMDs) rely on lifesaving orphan drugs-therapies often developed and available primarily in high-income countries. Yet in many low- and middle-income regions, especially Latin America, patients face stark inequities in access. While an estimated 300 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, most Latin American countries until recently had little to no rare disease policy infrastructure [1]. This perspective highlights the disparity in IMD drug access between wealthy nations and Latin America (with Chile as a case in point), examines the ethical imperatives for equitable and timely access, and explores barriers and potential policy solutions to ensure no patient is left behind.

Journal of Inherited Metabolic DiseaseVol. 49(2)
Universidad de Santiago de Chile (CL), Instituto de Nutricion e Higiene de los Alimentos (CU), University of Chile (CL)
No poverty
Openalex Percentile: Top 66%
Genomics and Rare Diseases
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