Firm’s Gipap program was never a clinical trial

This refers to the news item on Dario Raagas (“Yolanda hero Dario Raagas fights for his life vs giant drug firm Novartis,” News, 4/12/14). May we clarify that the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (Gipap) is not a clinical trial.

For the past 12 years, The Max Foundation (Max) has been the global administrator of Gipap, an access program set up by Novartis in 2002 to help patients in some countries, including the Philippines. Among the important things Max does for Gipap is protect private information about its patients. Our organization is the only entity that has access to such information and it is not a research organization. It is a global health organization that believes that all people living with cancer have the right to access the best treatment and support.

By partnering with industry, government agencies, healthcare providers, national cancer patient organizations and others entities, Max is able to help people living with cancer gain access to treatment. Through personalized services, quality training and education and global advocacy efforts, Max helps people face cancer with dignity and hope.

As Gipap administrator, Max manages the patients medical and private information received by their attending physicians only for the purpose of coordinating the treatment of each patient with their healthcare provider. As an access program, Gipap was set in place after it got the approval of the Food and Drug Administration and European health authorities. At the time Raagas was placed under Gipap, the drug had been approved by the FDA. To repeat, the Gipap program is not and never has been a clinical trial.

Together with our local partner Touched by Max, we at Gipap work tirelessly to ensure that people living with CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia) in the Philippines have access to care, information and support. You can help us ensure that information disseminated for public consumption is accurate so we can avoid creating panic in the patient community. Touched by Max is a local patient support organization for people living with CML and GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor) in the Philippines. It was founded and is run by a group of patients and caregivers, and works closely with Max to extend support and information to members.

For people living with CML who are in need of a second line treatment after Glivec, there are several treatment options. One of the options is an approved drug called Tasigna, a treatment also made by Novartis. Tasigna can be accessed in the Philippines through Novartis Oncology Access.

Interested parties may contact us for further information.

—PAT GARCIA-GONZALEZ,

president and chief executive officer,

The Max Foundation; member of the advisory board, International CML Foundation; member of the steering committee, CML Advocates Network, pato@themaxfoundation.org