BeOne Medicines, the BeOne Care Foundation and The Max Foundation have renewed their partnership until 2028. This is to expand access to Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in low- and middle-income countries.
The collaboration, launched in 2023, has enabled over 300 patients with CLL in Armenia, Ethiopia and Nepal to access Brukinsa. The programme is projected to support approximately 1,000 patients cumulatively.
CLL is the most common leukaemia in adults, accounting for about one third of new cases of leukaemia and an estimated 191,000 new diagnoses worldwide each year. Despite advances in treatment, patients in many low- and middle-income countries continue to face significant barriers to accessing innovative cancer therapies.
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, Co-Founder and CEO, The Max Foundation, said: “Working hand in hand with our partner physicians in Armenia, Ethiopia and Nepal we have been able to help hundreds of patients access treatment.”
John Oyler, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, BeOne Medicines, said: “From the beginning, our goal has been to ensure that where a person lives does not determine whether they can access high-quality cancer care.”
Christine Riley Miller, President, BeOne Care Foundation, said: “Established to help eliminate barriers to accessible cancer care in underserved communities, we can help expand access to transformational medicines and strengthen the support systems patients need to achieve the best possible outcomes.”
Under the renewed agreement, the partnership will continue supporting patients in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Nepal, with potential expansion into additional countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Togo and Zambia, enabling access through the programme to patients in these countries for the first time.
To support continuity of care, patients enrolled in the programme will continue receiving treatment beyond the partnership term for as long as treatment is medically needed.
BeOne Care Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation and The Max Foundation is a global health nonprofit organisation. The collaboration combines The Max Foundation’s expertise in implementing oncology access programmes with donated Brukinsa from BeOne Medicines and a $1m grant from the BeOne Care Foundation to support patient care, physician engagement and operational infrastructure over the next two years.