The Max Foundation and Cepheid have renewed and expanded their collaboration to increase access to molecular diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The agreement provides The Max Foundation with access to Cepheid’s GeneXpert® instruments, offering reduced prices on testing systems, and additional access to test kits indicated for bladder and breast cancer diagnoses.
“Our partnership with The Max Foundation is a natural one, because both Cepheid and The Max Foundation aim to increase patient access to care,” says Scott Campbell, Cepheid SVP and General Manager, Oncology.
Cepheid is a molecular diagnostics company with a mission to improve patient outcomes by enabling access to molecular diagnostic testing for everyone.
Cepheid and The Max Foundation’s collaboration began in 2012, opening access for The Max Foundation to purchase instruments and kits within a preferential pricing agreement. Since 2012, The Max Foundation has brought molecular diagnostic capabilities to more than 20 countries, allowing thousands of patients to access treatment. In the past two years the organization has established a Solidarity Fund, a restricted fund used to purchase diagnostic test kits for the most underserved regions within Max Access Solutions.
Solidarity for diagnostics
The Max Foundation provides access to chronic myeloid leukemia treatment to oncology centers in more than 70 countries and strives to reach thousands of patients with the right treatment at the right time. However, you cannot treat what you cannot diagnose. Patients must have a qualified, molecular diagnostic test in order to gain access to appropriate treatments.
Dr. Eda Cálix, Medical Director in Centro de Cáncer Emma Romero de Callejas in Honduras says prior to the donations, the hospital couldn’t afford the tests. “We had some cases of patients not monitored during a long time (even 11 years), being evaluated only through clinical controls and hematologic results. Our country and our institution really need this support,” she says.
The Max Foundation’s partnership with Cepheid exemplifies how collaborations can solve a growing need for molecular diagnostics to be more accessible and affordable to all.
As Max Access Solutions continues to diversify its treatment portfolio, the team recognizes a growing need for access to diagnostics. The addition of key diagnostics for breast cancer and for bladder cancer provide a unique opportunity for the organization to expand its impact in these disease areas.
The Max Foundation hopes to continue to expand their partnerships with innovators in the diagnostics market in order to increase accessibility and affordability for every person, no matter where they reside.
(For more information on the GeneXpert system, go on Cepheid’s cartridge journey to experience the intricate technology that makes it possible to diagnose patients effectively and efficiently.)