Humanitarian PACT Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Humanitarian PACT?
A: In 2022, The Max Foundation, in partnership with the ABC Global Alliance, oncologists in LMICs, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies, and professional organizations, launched the Humanitarian PACT for Breast Cancer to expand access to therapies while strengthening health system capacity. The Humanitarian Partnership for Access to Cancer Treatment (Humanitarian PACT) for Advanced Breast Cancer is a multi-stakeholder collaboration among professional, nonprofit and commercial organizations who share the commitment of the Max Foundation to accelerate health equity by delivering medication, technology, and supportive services to people living with cancer. This collaborative initiative is launching primarily to improve outcomes for people living with HR+/HER2 negative advanced breast cancer in LMICs.
Q: Who are the participants in the Humanitarian PACT?
A: Founding partners of the Humanitarian PACT for Advanced Breast Cancer include The Max Foundation, the ABC Global Alliance, the American Society of Clinical Pathology, Cepheid, Lilly, and Novartis AG. Discussions are ongoing with additional founding partners who we hope will help join this critical effort.
Q: What will the contributions of the Humanitarian PACT members be?
A: Partner members will be investing resources and/or their unique organizational knowledge and capabilities to support the expansion of the Max Foundation’s Max Access Solutions (MAS) model to provide access to treatment for HR+/HER2 negative advanced breast cancer.
Q: What is Max Access Solutions?
A: Max Access Solutions is a proven treatment access model created and operated by The Max Foundation. MAS harnesses the power of partnerships and prioritizes individual patients’ needs to improve outcomes for cancer in low resource healthcare settings. More than 100,000 people have received access to treatment through Max Access Solutions, which now operates in more than 75 low resource countries.
Q: Why was breast cancer chosen for this multi-stakeholder collaboration?
A: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women. Approximately 2.2 million cases occur each year worldwide with about 70,000 deaths annually. Importantly, an estimated 45% of new cases are diagnosed each year, and more than 55% of breast cancer related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While early detection and treatment have improved survival in high-income countries, women in LMICs face disproportionately high mortality due to late-stage presentation, limited diagnostic capacity, and lack of access to treatment. Breast cancer patients in these low-resource settings additionally face unique challenges including poor access to screening, delayed diagnoses, inadequate disease management and lack of availability of therapeutic interventions.
Q: What are the immediate and longer-term goals of the Humanitarian PACT?
A: The Humanitarian PACT for Breast Cancer is a multi-sector initiative providing medicines, diagnostic support, clinical training, disease management, and wrap-around patient services. Site readiness assessments were completed at 21 medical institutions across 16 LMICs to guide program implementation beginning in 2023. Additional activities included patient journey mapping, healthcare provider training, and patient-centered support such as transportation assistance, navigation services, and psychosocial care.
Patients enrolled in the program receive medication and support at no cost. In 2023, Mozambique became the first country to gain treatment access through a medicine donation from Novartis AG. By December, treatment had also begun in Nepal, with preparations underway to expand access in the Bahamas, Benin, Bhutan, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Seychelles in the coming months. Through a partnership with Lilly in 2024, patients in Kenya are now receiving critical treatment.