The Max Access Solution: A 'No Patient Left Behind' Model for Treatment Access

Abstract

Purpose The Max Foundation has led the development and implementation of the widely recognized model for patient assistance programs by which manufacturers make available some of their innovative products to patients in low- and middle-income countries. Recognizing that a limitation of a pharmaceutical patient assistance program is the focus on a particular product while a patient’s cancer need is company agnostic, the Max Access Solution borrows from all the lessons learned from developing and managing access programs while shifting the focus from the drug to the patient. This innovative long-term access approach provides a bridge to treatment to individually identified patients in countries where the treatment is not otherwise locally available. Methods The initiative focuses on the patient and his or her needs across the disease spectrum, harnessing the power of multisector collaborations, including drug manufacturers, international distributors, diagnostics companies, ministries of health, ministries of health hospitals, cancer centers and other public institutions in recipient countries, and local nongovernmental organizations and patient organizations, as well as cancer research centers in the United States. We established the following measurable objectives: identify all treatments approved for a particular cancer, identify the supportive care needed to successfully treat the disease, identify local and international stakeholders for the success of the initiative, develop collaborative agreements with each of them, and establish an end-to-end validated supply chain into each country/cancer institution. Results In the first year of implementation, The Max Foundation delivered more than 700,000 required daily doses of oral cancer medication for CML to more than 10,000 patients in 65 countries, made 2,500 molecular tests available to patients, executed more than 220 collaboration agreements, and established a gross domestic product–validated supply chain into 90 cancer-treating institutions. Conclusion The Max Access Solution is a unique and innovative approach to cancer care access. An aim of The Max Foundation in developing the Max Access Solution for CML was as a proof of concept as well as to develop systems and impact measurements, with the long-term vision of expanding the model to other cancers. This model may be replicated in a variety of noncommunicable disease areas, including breast cancer and other cancers, to reduce health disparities globally. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to www.asco.org/rwc or ascopubs.org/jco/site/ifc . No COIs from the authors.