# Cancer coalition aims to boost access to medicines in poorer countries
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-05-20
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Novartis and Roche join forces with global cancer groups to
Meta Description: Discover how Novartis and Roche are joining forces with global cancer organisations to increase availability of medication in poorer nations.
URL: https://financedigest.com/cancer-coalition-aims-to-boost-access-to-medicines-in-poorer-countrieshtml

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By Jennifer Rigby

LONDON (Reuters) – Pharmaceutical companies including Novartis and Roche have teamed up with global cancer organisations in an alliance aimed at getting more oncology medications to poorer countries.

Currently, fewer than 50% of the cancer drugs on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) essential medicines list are available in low and middle income countries, and the disease burden is growing. Without action, almost three in four cancer deaths are set to occur in these settings in the [next decade](https://www.financedigest.com/polycaprolactone-market-is-projected-to-expand-at-an-impressive-cagr-of-10-over-the-next-decade-to-be-valued-2-5x-its-current-side-by-2030.html "Polycaprolactone Market Is Projected To Expand At An Impressive CAGR Of 10% Over The Next Decade, To Be Valued 2.5X Its Current Side By 2030").

In the first concrete step for the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, Novartis has licensed its blood cancer drug nilotinib to the United Nations’ Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), allowing generic manufacturers to access the know-how to produce the drug at scale and at a [lower cost](https://www.financedigest.com/bmw-bets-on-design-and-recycling-not-mining-to-lower-battery-costs.html "BMW bets on design and recycling, not mining, to lower battery costs").

Previously, the [technology behind](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-generative-ai-the-technology-behind-openais-chatgpt.html "What is Generative AI, the technology behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT?") HIV drugs and COVID-19 has been shared in this way, but nilotinib is the first drug for a non-communicable disease in the pool, ATOM said.

It only has a year left on its patent, but Novartis’ [head of global](https://www.financedigest.com/hybrid-theory-promotes-ines-martins-to-global-head-of-product-names-sean-badlishah-managing-director-of-apac-region.html "HYBRID THEORY PROMOTES INÊS MARTINS TO GLOBAL HEAD OF PRODUCT; NAMES SEAN BADLISHAH MANAGING DIRECTOR OF APAC REGION.") health Lutz Hegemann said generic manufacturers had signalled it was still worthwhile.

I think in a [year there’s a lot that you can try to test](https://www.financedigest.com/hbsag-testing-market-is-set-to-witness-a-5-9-growth-during-the-year-2021-2031.html "HBsAg Testing Market is set to witness a 5.9% growth during the year 2021-2031") and this is not the only medicine that we would consider offering up,” he said in an interview.

The aim of the coalition is not just to [provide the drugs but also support training](https://www.financedigest.com/mazars-to-acquire-financial-modelling-consultancy-and-training-provider-corality-financial-group.html "Mazars to acquire financial modelling consultancy and training provider, Corality Financial Group"), diagnostics and delivery to get them to patients, the Union for International Cancer Control – a key partner – said.

The coalition begins by seeking $32 million from the [private sector](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-slides-on-contraction-in-private-sector-activity.html "Dollar slides on contraction in private sector activity") for its first four years of operation, and will focus initially on capacity building activities in ten lower and middle income countries, developing existing initiatives.

The Access to Medicine Foundation, which has long [called out the inequality in access](https://www.financedigest.com/india-resists-calls-for-more-air-access-in-drive-to-be-global-aviation-force.html "India resists calls for more air access in drive to be global aviation force") to drugs and care, will collaborate with the group.

“You’ve got some of the top minds … the people with deep pockets, the shelves stocked with drugs …. We will be tracking progress on how this consortium delivers,” said Jayasree Iyer, director of the foundation. (This story corrects paragraph 8 to show coalition is still seeking to [raise $32 million)](https://www.financedigest.com/ride-hailing-app-cabify-raises-110-million-for-expansion-in-latam-spain.html "Ride-hailing app Cabify raises 0 million for expansion in LatAm, Spain")

(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby; Editing by Mark Potter)


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