The Max Foundation, an international nonprofit focused on advancing health equity, is set to expand its partnership with Novartis to include the innovative treatment Fabhalta (iptacopan) for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in low-resource regions. This development aims to provide cutting-edge treatment for a rare and debilitating blood disorder that leads to the premature breakdown of red blood cells.
“We are delighted to broaden our impact by offering those with PNH in under-resourced countries a novel treatment for this critical condition,” expressed Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, CEO of The Max Foundation. “This venture underscores our shared commitment to health equity, presenting the most current approved therapy at no charge, which supports our mission to hasten health equity and enable people to live with dignity and hope.”
PNH results from a genetic anomaly affecting red blood cells and platelets. Annually, it affects approximately 6 individuals per million. Symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, increased heart rate, or difficulty breathing often surface unexpectedly due to stressors like physical exertion or infections. During such episodes, premature cell breakdown leads to the excretion of dark-colored urine and can result in conditions like anemia, chronic kidney disease, or blood clots if untreated.
“For over two decades, Novartis has worked closely with The Max Foundation to advance health equity through access to our pioneering oncology treatments. Together, we’ve reached over 100,000 patients, having a lasting effect on communities worldwide. Novartis is honored to deepen our robust alliance, bringing early access to PNH patients requiring assistance,” stated Lutz Hegemann, president of global health at Novartis.
The initiative plans to prioritize identifying key physicians ready to manage PNH patients and creating access routes across 53 countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Asia Pacific. Along with drug access, The Max Foundation is keen to partner with medical professionals to reinforce healthcare systems by offering education and training, discovering prospective partners in low- and middle-income regions, enhancing medical institutional capabilities, and engaging in discussions to widen treatment access.
The partnership between The Max Foundation and Novartis began in 2001 with a focus on accessibility to treatments for chronic myeloid leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, subsequently expanding to encompass advanced breast cancer and other rare illnesses. Novartis contributes to the Humanitarian Partnership for Access to Critical Treatments (Humanitarian PACT) aligned with The Max Foundation’s goal of increasing global availability of treatment, care, and support for cancer patients and those confronting critical illnesses. Humanitarian PACT members commit their resources and expertise to the enhancement of The Max Foundation’s time-tested treatment access approach.
As a premier global health nonprofit, The Max Foundation dedicates its efforts to accelerating health equity. Over its 27-year history, it has crafted practical, scalable, and high-quality solutions to deliver lifesaving therapies and patient-centric healthcare to over 100,000 individuals with cancer and serious illnesses in low- and middle-income countries.