Max and Novartis Mark 25 Years of Access Innovation for Cancer

In 2001, The Max Foundation partnered with the pharmaceutical corporation Novartis to develop an international treatment access program for people living with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Since then, we’ve helped thousands of patients in low- and middle-income countries access life-extending diagnostics, medication, and support services.

A lot has changed over the years, but our focus remains the same. We believe that we can prevent unnecessary suffering and premature death – and because we can, we must.

Learn more about our collaboration below.

1997 – The Max Foundation is Born

A small group of volunteers joined forces with a mission to help Latin American families whose children were diagnosed with leukemia gain access to education and support. They name their grassroots organization The Max Foundation to honor Maximiliano “Max” Rivarola, Co-founder and CEO Pat Garcia-Gonzalez’s stepson. He passed away from CML in 1991 at age 17.

2001 – A Silver Bullet for CML

Novartis’s Imatinib (Glivec®) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat patients. It was the first ever tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which blocks enzymes that help cancer cells grow. This innovative treatment changed the natural course of the disease, turning CML from a deadly disease into a chronic condition for most patients. Before this breakthrough, the only potential curative existing treatment was a bone marrow transplant, a high-risk procedure that was typically successful about half of the time. Without it, patients were expected to live three to five years depending on which stage they were diagnosed. 

2001 – Launch of Drug Access Program

We partner with Novartis to develop and administer their Glivec® International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP), a direct-to-patient international drug access program providing free-of-charge treatment for CML and other rare cancers to patients in low- and middle-income countries.

2006 – Global Program Expands

By the end of this year, 19,342 patients have been helped by the GIPAP program since it began, receiving access to life-extending medication free of charge. We’ve operated in 75 low- and middle-income countries. This work is made possible by past and current partnerships with 196 institutions and 474 physicians, who are committed to advancing global health equity.

2010 – Reaching More People in Need

We continue the collaboration to deliver access to innovative medication to those who need it most, whether that’s through GIPAP or another source. By the end of this year, 43,665 patients in 80 countries have been helped since the start of the program. Several countries transitioned patients from the donation program to their local health systems. We’ve partnered with 234 institutions and 804 dedicated physicians since 2001.

2011 – Launch of More Innovative Medicine

The first patient is approved for Novartis’s nilotinib, a new medication for CML. Second-line treatment is an important resource for physicians and their patients. If the first medication stops working or causes severe side effects, they can try another option. By 2025, we offer 17 treatments for 15 diseases.

2016 – New Partnership for Cancer Treatments

With Novartis as a founding member, we form the Humanitarian Partnership for Access to Critical Treatments (Humanitarian PACT) – a collaboration among professional, nonprofit, and commercial organizations that aims to eliminate healthcare disparities by accelerating access to innovative medicines. Members agree to invest resources and/or their unique knowledge and capabilities to increase global access to treatment, care, and support for people living with cancer in low- and middle-income countries.

2017 – Launch of Max Access Solutions

We launch Max Access Solutions, our innovative, patient-centered model for delivering cancer treatment to those in need. Through the program, previously called GIPAP and CMLPath to Care, we connect people facing cancer in countries where treatment is not locally available to high-impact medicines, qualified medical professionals, and essential support services. It’s designed to expand access to cancer medicines beyond CML.

2020 – Pandemic Sparks Innovation

The COVID-19 pandemic struck fast around the globe and caught people by surprise—borders closed, flights canceled, and people were stranded. In some cases, people living with cancer were stuck far from home and unable to reach their medication. A young patient from Cambodia, whose lifeline was an investigational drug she had been accessing through Singapore, was no longer able to travel for her next medical appointment. Together, Max and a team from Novartis collaborate to ensure her access to life-saving treatment.

2022 – Breast Cancer Care Begins

The Humanitarian PACT expands to include breast cancer. Novartis and other members commit to expanding access to life-extending treatment and strengthening health systems. In October 2023, the first three patients began receiving HER2- HR+ breast cancer treatment in Mozambique. By 2026, around 1,000 patients had initiated treatment in more than 12 countries. Additionally, around 70 healthcare professionals received clinical training. This helps them deliver quality care, improve patient outcomes, and address health system challenges. Max facilitated the trainings, which medical experts from the Humanitarian PACT conducted globally.

2024 – Addressing Rare Disease

The Novartis collaboration is expanded again, this time to include access to treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare and debilitating disease that causes red blood cells to break apart. The program initially focused on identifying partner physicians ready to treat PNH and creating drug access pathways into 53 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific.

2025 – A Bold Commitment

Max’s Co-founder and CEO Pat Garcia-Gonzalez and Novartis President of Global Health and Swiss Country Affairs Dr. Lutz Hegemann speak at the Clinton Global Initiative. There, Pat announces a bold ambition; Max will provide access to medication, diagnostics, and support services to 100,000 patients annually by 2031.

Novartis and Max also sign a landmark five-year agreement to extend our collaboration. Together, we will deliver treatment and support services for patients living with CML, metastatic breast cancer, PNH, and rare cancers such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors. The collaboration also aims to strengthen local healthcare systems by engaging with governments, hospitals, and healthcare professionals.

2026 – A 25-Year Partnership

Max and Novartis celebrate 25 years of partnership. These collaborations are essential to advance the care of people living with cancer in low- and middle-income countries.

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