Overview
Every year, over $80 billion is poured into oncology R&D by the biopharma industry. That’s a staggering investment—one that promises breakthroughs, better treatments, and longer lives. And yet, less than 5% of cancer patients globally ever participate in clinical trials.
This is more than just a data point—it’s a bottleneck that’s limiting the life-saving potential of decades of research. A new study, released on World Cancer Research Day, calls out this imbalance and makes a powerful case for reshaping how we think about access to clinical trials. The report, led by Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Dr. Bob T. Li and backed by global collaborators like Forbes China, McKinsey’s Cancer Center, and the Bloomberg New Economy International Cancer Coalition, argues that expanding access isn’t just ethically right—it’s a strategic business imperative for an R&D ecosystem that’s increasingly unsustainable in its current form.
An Uneven Battlefield
While cancer is a global disease, access to the latest treatments is anything but equal. China leads the world in cancer deaths, followed by the U.S. and India. Lung cancer remains the deadliest, while breast cancer is the most diagnosed. These numbers paint a grim but familiar picture. What’s new—and worth noting—is the increasing push for global equity in how clinical trials are designed, distributed, and deployed.
As the study emphasizes, the most cutting-edge therapies often remain out of reach for vast swathes of the global population due to systemic barriers. Regulatory complexity, limited physician awareness, and lack of infrastructure in community clinics disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. The result? A world where innovation thrives in silos—primarily benefiting populations in high-income geographies while others remain sidelined.
Innovation Can—and Must—Leapfrog Barriers
The solution lies in what the study calls “leapfrogging technologies.” Tools like liquid biopsies, decentralized trials, and digital patient engagement platforms can help cut through traditional access barriers. These technologies are not just about efficiency—they are about inclusion. They allow trials to reach beyond academic hospitals and into community clinics, rural regions, and underserved populations.
Importantly, the report also pushes for international data sharing—long considered a sticking point due to privacy regulations and fragmented systems. But as AI and precision medicine increasingly rely on diverse datasets, opening global channels becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Without diverse patient representation, personalized treatments risk becoming personalized for only a fraction of humanity.
Why Founders Should Pay Attention
For business leaders and industry veterans, this is a strategic inflection point. Oncology R&D can no longer be viewed through a purely national or institutional lens. It must become globally collaborative. As Dr. Kevin Rudd, former Asia Society CEO, aptly put it, “The fight against cancer is a global movement that belongs to all of humanity.”
Companies operating in or adjacent to healthcare—whether in AI, biotech, digital platforms, or logistics—should view this moment as more than a call for corporate social responsibility. It’s an opportunity to shape and scale solutions that bridge access gaps. Investing in infrastructure that allows trials to go global isn’t just good for patients—it’s good for business.
A New Era of Cross-Border Collaboration
The timing of this call for inclusivity is no coincidence. It comes on the heels of the Quad Cancer Moonshot—a new global initiative launched by leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. The Moonshot underscores a critical truth: beating cancer requires collective action. No country can—or should—go it alone.
As World Cancer Research Day reminds us, progress against cancer depends not only on science but on systems. Systems that are agile, inclusive, and globally connected.
If access to innovation defines the future of cancer treatment—what role can your business play in making that access faster, fairer, and truly global?
