Novartis Oncology Access Programs

The Novartis Oncology Access programs are designed to address the lack of access and reimbursement for cancer treatment in low-and middle-income countries. One of the largest programs, the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP), was developed in 2002 to ensure patients with CML (chronic myeloid leukemia) or GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor), two rare cancers, receive treatment. In partnership with The Max Foundation, 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 aims 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.

This is an independent program within The Max Foundation in collaboration with Novartis for delivering treatment to these patients, including supply chain management. Novartis provides funding and drug donation support. The collaborative agreement for CMLPath to Care runs through the first quarter of 2021 with an option to extend it. During this period, Novartis expects to donate more than USD 29 million to the collaboration, along with approximately 315 million doses of medicine, and to evaluate further options to sustain the program after 2021.