BeOne Medicines, BeOne Care Foundation and The Max Foundation Renew Partnership to Expand BRUKINSA Access for Patients With CLL
BeOne Medicines Ltd., a global oncology company, has announced the renewal of its partnership with the BeOne Care Foundation and The Max Foundation, a leading global health nonprofit organization, to expand access to BRUKINSA® (zanubrutinib) for people living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in low- and middle-income countries.
The renewed collaboration will extend through 2028 and is expected to support approximately 1,000 patients cumulatively through the program. The initiative builds on a partnership that began in 2023 and is designed to address persistent disparities in access to innovative cancer treatments in underserved communities.
Under the expanded agreement, patients with CLL in participating countries will continue to receive access to BRUKINSA, while the organizations explore opportunities to extend the program to additional countries. The partnership combines BeOne Medicines’ donated medicines, the philanthropic resources of the BeOne Care Foundation, and The Max Foundation’s expertise in implementing and managing cancer treatment access programs in resource-limited settings.
To date, the collaboration has helped more than 300 patients with CLL across Armenia, Ethiopia, and Nepal gain access to BRUKINSA. The number of patients supported has exceeded the original scope of the program by approximately 150 people, demonstrating the potential impact of coordinated efforts between pharmaceutical companies, charitable foundations, and global health organizations.
Expanding Access to Innovative Cancer Treatment
Access to modern cancer therapies remains uneven around the world. While advances in oncology have produced new medicines that can improve outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies, individuals living in many low- and middle-income countries may still encounter significant barriers to obtaining these treatments.
Financial limitations, healthcare infrastructure gaps, limited availability of specialized physicians, and complex procurement processes can all affect a patient’s ability to receive appropriate treatment.
The renewed partnership is intended to address several of these challenges by combining medicine donations with financial support and local healthcare expertise.
The BeOne Care Foundation will provide a $1 million grant to The Max Foundation over the next two years. The funding will support patient care, physician engagement, program operations, and infrastructure needed to deliver treatment effectively.
At the same time, BeOne Medicines will continue providing donated BRUKINSA to eligible patients through the access program.
The Max Foundation will contribute its experience in developing and implementing global oncology access programs, working with local physicians and healthcare stakeholders to identify eligible patients and help facilitate treatment.
Together, these components create a model intended to address not only access to the medicine itself but also some of the practical challenges involved in delivering cancer care in underserved settings.
Building on a Partnership Launched in 2023
The partnership between BeOne Medicines, the BeOne Care Foundation, and The Max Foundation began in 2023 with the objective of increasing access to BRUKINSA for patients with CLL who might otherwise have limited or no access to innovative treatment options.
Since its launch, the program has supported patients in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Nepal.
More than 300 patients have received access to treatment through the initiative to date. According to the organizations, this represents approximately 150 more patients than originally anticipated under the initial program scope.
The experience gained during the first phase of the collaboration has helped demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a coordinated oncology access program across multiple countries with different healthcare systems and resource requirements.
The renewed agreement builds on that experience and aims to expand the program’s reach while strengthening continuity of care for existing patients.
Patients who have enrolled in the program will continue to receive treatment beyond the formal partnership period for as long as treatment remains medically necessary. This commitment is intended to minimize disruptions in care and provide greater certainty for patients receiving ongoing therapy.
Potential Expansion Into Additional Countries
The renewed partnership will continue supporting patients in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Nepal while evaluating opportunities to expand access into additional countries.
Potential new countries identified under the agreement include Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Togo, and Zambia.
Expansion into these countries will depend on operational readiness and evolving healthcare access priorities. If implemented, the expansion would allow patients in these markets to access the program for the first time.
The potential geographic expansion is an important part of the organizations’ long-term objective of making innovative cancer treatments more accessible in regions where treatment options may be limited.
By 2028, the program is projected to support approximately 1,000 patients cumulatively. The organizations view this target as evidence of the potential scalability of the partnership model.
Rather than establishing independent programs in each country, the collaboration uses the combined expertise and resources of the three organizations to develop a coordinated approach to patient access.
BRUKINSA and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
BRUKINSA, also known as zanubrutinib, is an oncology medicine developed by BeOne Medicines. The drug is being made available through the access initiative for eligible patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
CLL is the most common type of leukemia among adults and accounts for approximately one-third of newly diagnosed leukemia cases. The disease affects the blood and bone marrow and can have a significant impact on patients’ health and quality of life.
According to estimates cited by the organizations, approximately 191,000 new cases of CLL are diagnosed worldwide each year.
Although treatment options for CLL have improved considerably, access to newer therapies remains a challenge in many parts of the world. Patients in low- and middle-income countries may have fewer treatment choices compared with patients in higher-income healthcare systems.
This disparity is particularly important for diseases such as CLL, where treatment may require specialized medical expertise and access to modern targeted therapies.
The partnership aims to help reduce some of these disparities by providing eligible patients with access to BRUKINSA while also supporting physicians and healthcare systems involved in their care.
Supporting Patients Beyond Medicine Access
A key element of the collaboration is that it goes beyond simply donating medicine.
The $1 million grant from the BeOne Care Foundation will help fund patient support, physician engagement, and operational infrastructure. These activities are important because delivering a medicine to a patient is only one component of successful cancer treatment.
Patients may also require diagnosis, clinical evaluation, treatment monitoring, follow-up care, and ongoing interaction with healthcare professionals.
The Max Foundation’s role is therefore critical in coordinating the program with local physicians and healthcare systems.
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, co-founder and CEO of The Max Foundation, said the organization is pleased to continue its collaboration with BeOne Medicines and the BeOne Care Foundation. She highlighted the experiences of patients in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Nepal who have gained access to treatment through the partnership.
According to Garcia-Gonzalez, access to cancer treatment can have effects that extend beyond medical outcomes, allowing patients to continue spending time with their families, contributing to their communities, and maintaining important aspects of their daily lives.
The organization intends to build on this experience as the partnership expands to additional patients and potentially new countries.
BeOne Medicines Reaffirms Commitment to Global Cancer Care
John V. Oyler, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of BeOne Medicines, emphasized the company’s goal of reducing geographic disparities in access to cancer treatment.
Oyler said that the partnership reflects the company’s broader commitment to ensuring that a person’s location does not determine whether they can receive high-quality cancer care.
For BeOne Medicines, renewing the collaboration provides an opportunity to build on the impact achieved since 2023 while extending the program to more patients who may otherwise face limited treatment options.
The company’s participation through medicine donations represents a component of its broader approach to expanding access to oncology therapies in underserved markets.
Role of the BeOne Care Foundation
The BeOne Care Foundation was established to help address barriers to cancer care in underserved communities. Through its support of The Max Foundation, the organization is contributing financial resources to help strengthen the infrastructure surrounding patient access.
Christine Riley Miller, president of the BeOne Care Foundation, said the foundation’s objective is to help eliminate barriers to accessible cancer treatment and support organizations that can help patients obtain appropriate care.
The foundation views partnerships with organizations such as The Max Foundation as a way to extend the impact of its resources. By supporting both medicine access and the systems needed to deliver care, the foundation aims to contribute to more sustainable improvements in cancer treatment availability.
A Model for Sustainable Global Health Partnerships
The renewed agreement demonstrates how pharmaceutical companies and nonprofit organizations can combine their respective strengths to address healthcare access challenges.
BeOne Medicines provides access to BRUKINSA, while the BeOne Care Foundation contributes financial support and The Max Foundation brings expertise in global oncology program implementation.
This division of responsibilities allows the organizations to address multiple barriers simultaneously.
The projected support of approximately 1,000 patients through 2028 also illustrates the potential scale of the initiative. If expansion into the additional countries proceeds as planned, the program could reach a broader population of patients with CLL across several regions.
Importantly, the commitment to continued treatment for enrolled patients after the formal partnership period is intended to support continuity of care. Long-term access is especially important for patients receiving ongoing treatment, as interruptions can create uncertainty and additional challenges for individuals and their healthcare providers.
The renewed collaboration establishes a longer-term framework for expanding access to BRUKINSA among patients with CLL in low- and middle-income countries.
Over the next two years, BeOne Medicines, the BeOne Care Foundation, and The Max Foundation will continue supporting patients in existing program countries while evaluating opportunities to introduce the initiative in additional markets.
The partnership’s projected cumulative reach of approximately 1,000 patients by 2028 reflects the organizations’ ambition to significantly expand the number of people benefiting from the program.
For patients living with CLL in underserved communities, access to innovative treatment can represent an important opportunity to receive modern cancer care that may otherwise be difficult to obtain.
As cancer treatment continues to advance globally, ensuring that these innovations reach patients regardless of geography or economic circumstances remains a major challenge. The renewed partnership between BeOne Medicines, the BeOne Care Foundation, and The Max Foundation represents a coordinated effort to address that challenge by combining medicines, funding, healthcare expertise, and local implementation capabilities.
Through the continuation and potential expansion of the program, the organizations aim to help more people living with CLL access treatment, strengthen local cancer-care support systems, and contribute to a more equitable global oncology landscape.
About BeOne Medicines
BeOne Medicines is a global oncology company that is discovering and developing innovative treatments for cancer patients worldwide. With a portfolio spanning hematology and solid tumors, BeOne is expediting development of its diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics through its internal capabilities and collaborations. The Company has a growing global team spanning six continents who are driven by scientific excellence and exceptional speed to reach more patients than ever before.
To learn more about BeOne, please visit www.beonemedicines.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.
About the BeOne Care Foundation
The BeOne Care Foundation is an independent nonprofit charitable organization established by BeOne Medicines to help eliminate barriers to accessible cancer care in underserved communities around the world. Through grant funding and strategic partnerships, the Foundation supports programs that expand access to innovative cancer treatments, strengthen local healthcare capacity, and improve patient outcomes in regions where access to care remains limited.
About The Max Foundation
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring lifesaving treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope. Learn more at www.themaxfoundation.org.
About BRUKINSA® (zanubrutinib)
BRUKINSA is a next-generation Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor designed to deliver complete and sustained BTK inhibition, enabled by optimized pharmacokinetics, including bioavailability, half-life, and selectivity, resulting in consistent target coverage in disease-relevant tissues.
BRUKINSA is the foundational BTK inhibitor and the first and only to demonstrate progression-free survival superiority over another BTK inhibitor in a Phase 3 study, setting a new benchmark for efficacy in the class. With the broadest label globally, it is also the only BTK inhibitor that offers the convenience of once- or twice-daily dosing to support individualized treatment.
The global BRUKINSA clinical development program spans more than 8,000 patients across over 45 trials in 30+ countries and regions. Approved in more than 80 markets, BRUKINSA has been used to treat over 300,000 patients worldwide, reflecting its rapidly expanding role as a standard of care across B-cell malignancies.