Saving lives from cancer in lower-income countries is possible, and access to diagnostics is as important as access to medicines. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and other chronic blood cancers can be successfully treated, but only if patients can be diagnosed and physicians are able to monitor treatment responses and prescribe urgently needed second-line medications.

According to a study by the University of Washington, a gap of close to $6 million per year exists in unmet costs to provide critically needed diagnostics for every patient in the over 70 low-and middle-income countries in our program.*

Preferential Pricing for Test Kits and Instruments

Thanks to an established collaboration with Cepheid, The Max Foundation has access to purchase their test kits and GeneXpert® systems at a 50-60% reduction from the market price. The GeneXpert® system is ideal for use in low-resource settings—it’s easy to use, maintenance is minimal, and it provides results in 90 minutes, as opposed to 2 days. Most patients are daily wage earners who travel long distances for physician visits. If a physician can have the patient’s test results and write a prescription before the patient travels back to their village or remote city, it makes all the difference for patients and their families.

Solidarity Fund: Patients Who Need It Most

Our Solidarity Fund currently provides all molecular testing needed for 14 countries we’ve identified as having patients with the greatest diagnostic needs. This is an incredible achievement, and with additional funding, we will continue to expand access to diagnostics for patients currently waiting in additional countries.

Supporting Physicians on the Frontline

We are committed to supporting our partner physicians to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge to diagnose and manage chronic cancers. Through our CML Medical Advisory Board and other partners, we connect physicians with international organizations and key leaders who serve as mentors and facilitate educational and capacity-building activities.

Education & Awareness

We believe that every patient should have equal access to a test result and have knowledge about their treatment path. We are currently working with over 70 local patient organizations helped support, educate, and empower close to 11,000 patients and caregivers through more than 100 events worldwide.