Celebrating a Landmark Milestone in Global Patient Access, Advocacy and Care
Bound by something that goes far beyond ‘partnership’, it is a lifelong mission.
Twenty-five years ago, the cover of TIME magazine carried a story hailing the advent of Gleevec the revolutionary breakthrough in cancer treatment, one that changed the future of the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) forever. Within a year, the Gleevec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP) was launched by Novartis and The Max Foundation, ensuring access to this life-saving treatment for thousands of CML patients who had no insurance, reimbursement support or were unable to purchase the drug on their own.
This program brought together a pharmaceutical company, a nonprofit organization and physicians in a partnership that broke barriers and established a new benchmark in patient care, compassion and access to treatment.
That same year also saw the birth of Friends of Max (FOM), a unique patient support group created to provide a safe and caring platform for hundreds of patients in India beginning lifelong treatment for a rare cancer. Guided by the enduring motto “Together We Share and Learn,” Friends of Max has, for over 25 years, remained a community that supports one another, inspires hope and empowers patients to live life to the fullest.
To commemorate this extraordinary journey, Friends of Max is planning a special FOM Leadership Summit in Indore in 2027. This will bring together patient leaders, physicians, global healthcare professionals, caregivers and supporters to celebrate 25 years of access to treatment and advocacy and our continuing efforts to ensure that no patient is left behind.
As we celebrate this landmark milestone, we salute all those who made this extraordinary journey possible.
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