How We’re Reimagining Cancer Care for the Next Generation Patient

In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, there is a profound shift in how patients approach their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Novartis has been committed to extending and improving lives through innovations that transcend medicines and recognize that a new paradigm is emerging – one we call the "next generation patient."

Who Are the Next Generation Patients?

The average age of cancer diagnoses are decreasing at an alarming rate, and older individuals are approaching aging with renewed vigor.^1,2 This creates a unique dynamic in cancer care that transcends traditional age demographics:

• Younger individuals are being diagnosed with cancer earlier in life, with the global incidence of early onset cancer increasing by almost 80% over the last 30 years, and these patients approach their diagnosis with digital fluency, research acumen, and expectations of personalized care^1,3
   
• Older adults account for most new cancer diagnoses and the majority of cancer survivors, but maintain youthful mindsets and active lifestyles beyond what previous generations experienced at the same chronological age, as the five-year survival rate has improved from 57.3% between 1995-1999, to 60.7% between 2010-2014^1,4

What unites these groups is a shared expectation that cancer care should preserve not just life itself, but its quality and fullness. These patients don't just want to survive – they want to thrive.

The Changing Face of Cancer Care

We are living in a new era of cancer care. The good news is patients are increasingly approaching their cancer care with growing emphasis on earlier intervention. Patients are coming to consultations prepared with research, questions about clinical trials, and expectations for treatments that maintain their identity and lifestyle during care.

Today's patients have evolved mindsets, needs, and expectations – prioritizing screening and detection to wanting to know more about the root cause of their disease to having their own plan for treatment. They're envisioning a future beyond their diagnosis, and we must be prepared to help them reach it.

At Novartis, we recognize that effective cancer care must evolve alongside the holistic needs of patients. Today’s patients expect more from their diagnosis and treatment, and we must meet them there. That is why we are committed to not only developing next-generation therapies, but also partnerships across the ecosystem to better understand the human experience, reimagine traditional treatment models and connect next generation patients to pioneering care.

- Victor Bultó, President US, Novartis

Bridging Technology and Patient Expectations

The 30-year legacy of Novartis is marked by consistently adapting to and championing new modalities, medicines, and comprehensive approaches to care. Through multiple therapeutic innovations, we are uniquely positioned to respond to the future of health care.

Today's patients expect their healthcare experience to meet the same standards they encounter elsewhere in their lives – personalization, convenience, and transparency. They want immediate access to health information, telehealth options, and treatment plans that consider their individual priorities.

Our Vision for Innovation

At Novartis, we're bridging the gap between this new generation of patients and pioneering care, widening the circle of those who can benefit and enhancing care pathways through:

• Strategic Partnerships to increase access to early screenings: We’re working with Susan G. Komen and ZERO to encourage earlier screening and prevention services. These partnerships are breaking down barriers to early screening, driving policy change amidst growing rates of cancer, and equipping patients with credible sources and resources to give them the confidence to advocate for themselves.
• Targeting Early Stages and Treatment Lines: We're focusing on earlier disease stages while connecting patients to the right care early in their treatment journey, introducing patients to our therapies when appropriate. With over thirty projects in solid tumors and hematology, including multiple phase three studies, our oncology pipeline remains one of our core strengths.
• Investing in Real-World Evidence: We’re prioritizing understanding how medical treatments perform in everyday settings, to help make treatment decisions more applicable and actionable for patients. This empowers healthcare providers, patients and caregivers with information to make shared decisions about the best treatment options together.

Our Commitment to Patients

Meeting the needs of the next generation patients require fundamentally rethinking how we develop treatments and engage with patients. The future of oncology is ever-changing, but our legacy positions us to lead with focus on patients, technological innovation and cutting-edge science.

We're not just developing the next generation of cancer therapies – we're reimagining cancer care for the next generation of patients.