What are the health needs and challenges?

There is a lack of access to and reimbursement for cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women worldwide and patients in low-resource settings face delayed diagnosis and poor access to treatment and care.

Partnership activities and how they address needs and challenges

Since 2002, The Max Foundation and Novartis have helped more than 90,000 patients in LMICs access treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and other rare cancers through several programs.

The Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP) was developed in 2002 to ensure patients with CML or GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor), two rare cancers, receive treatment. This direct-to-patient access program has provided treatment to approximately
75,000 people since its inception.

In 2017, Novartis announced the transition of this partnership to a new program called CMLPath to Care™, which aimed to support continued access to treatment at no cost for the nearly 34,000 previously registered patients in GIPAP with CML, GIST and other rare cancers. CMLPath to Care™ provided Glivec at no cost to patients who would not otherwise have access to treatment.

From April 2022, Novartis has launched CancerPath to Care^TM, an extension of the CMLPath to Care^TM program. This is a unique global initiative that connects people living with breast cancer and rare cancers, like CML, with effective treatments, professional medical capabilities, trained physicians and hands-on support. The initiative is directed by The Max Foundation with support from Novartis through drug donations and funding.

The collaboration aims to provide access to care to 36,000 people living with breast and rare cancers, like CML, in over 70 low- and middle-income countries by 2025. Eligible patients will have access to Novartis treatments for breast cancer (Kisqali® and Femara®), as well as those in our CML portfolio: Glivec®, Tasigna® and our novel therapy Scemblix®.

Early engagement with local healthcare institutions, treating physicians and departments of health are essential to the success of a program of this size and ambition. Equally important is clarity on the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved along with standard operating procedures to standardize processes across many disparate countries. Education on the program for physicians, governments, patients, distributors and others involved is also crucial.

The impact of the program is especially significant where local health institutions and civil organizations work together to improve facilities and educate patients and their families, thereby providing resources to offer integrated patient care.