Cancer Management and Research

The Cancer Treatment Revolution and the Threat to Equitable Global Medicines Access

There has been an unparalleled advancement in cancer therapeutics development, including personalized medicine, that has led to a global decline in cancer mortality across different cancer types, mostly in high income countries. Notably, more than 300 new anti-cancer drugs have been approved in the last decade alone. Furthermore, spending on cancer medicines exceeded $180 billion globally in 2021 with the vast majority focused in the major developed markets. As thrilling as this innovative therapeutic landscape is, it remains a challenge to ensure that all patients who need these cancer therapeutics can access them at the point of care. This Collection includes papers that address inequities in access to cancer therapeutics globally and approaches for closing the equity gap.