We continue to engage in strategic donations to address access gaps for neglected and infectious diseases (e.g., leprosy) and people at the bottom of the pyramid. All our donations follow an internal donation policy and comply with the WHO Checklist and the requirements set forth in the WHO Guidelines for Medicine Donations. To ensure all our donations ultimately help the patients in need, we monitor progress and make contractual arrangements with our partners on the ground.
CancerPath to Care
CancerPath to Care is a unique global initiative that connects people living with breast cancer and rare cancers, like chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), with effective treatments, professional medical capabilities, trained physicians and hands-on support. The initiative is directed by The Max Foundation with support from Novartis through drug donations and funding.
With this collaboration, we aim to provide access to care to 36 000 patients in over 70 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by 2025. Eligible patients will have access to Novartis treatments for breast cancer (Kisqali® and Femara®), as well as those in our CML portfolio: Glivec®, Tasigna® and our novel therapy Scemblix®.
CancerPath to Care expands the 20-year access collaboration with The Max Foundation, previously known as CMLPath to Care, which focused on CML and other rare cancers. CMLPath to Care (originally launched as the Glivec® International Patient Assistance Program in 2002) provided medication at no cost to properly diagnosed patients in lower-income countries without access to reimbursement or funding mechanisms and to patients unable to pay for the medication.
Leprosy
Over the past 30 years, more than 15 million leprosy patients have been treated and the incidence of the disease has declined significantly – a tremendous public health success. Since 2000, Novartis has helped fight the disease by donating multidrug therapy (MDT) to leprosy patients worldwide through the World Health Organization, helping treat more than 7.5 million patients.
In 2020, we renewed our pledge to work to end leprosy by extending our donation of MDT medicines through 2025. Learn more about our efforts to eliminate leprosy
Fascioliasis
Fascioliasis, commonly known as liver fluke, is caused by two species of parasitic flatworms or trematodes that mainly affect the liver. It belongs to the group of foodborne trematode infections. WHO estimates that at least 2.4 million people are infected in more than 70 countries worldwide, with several million at risk. Triclabendazole is the only medicine recommended by WHO against fascioliasis and is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines.
Since 2005, Novartis has provided Egaten® free of charge through the WHO to people with fascioliasis worldwide. Since the start of the donation program, Novartis has donated approximately 4 million tablets of Egaten, valued at USD 41 million, helping to treat around 2 million people with fascioliasis in more than 30 countries. In 2020, Novartis reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against fascioliasis, extending the Egaten drug donation to the WHO until 2025.
Donation programs for disaster relief
In the case of a disaster, we work with the international community and our local country organizations on the ground. Our aim is to deliver our support as quickly as possible in order to achieve the greatest possible impact for those directly affected.
Our Disaster Relief Process enables us to make timely decisions (within 72 hours after an event strikes) and deliver aid in a sustainable and transparent manner based on the needs of affected communities. Depending on the situation, our aid includes funds and/or matching gift programs.