The Index identified six promising late-stage candidates that could improve millions of lives. All have access plans in place, but these vary in how fully they cover availability, affordability and supply.

Projects developed with an access-oriented partner are more likely to have an access plan in place, with 95% having one.

Among NCD projects with an access plan, 43% focus solely on registration, primarily in upper-middle-income countries, supporting availability but not addressing other factors such as affordability and reliable supply.

AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb and Roche demonstrate access efforts that consider needs beyond the medicine itself for cancer patients.

Despite the overall increase in access plans for oncology pipeline candidates, their geographic reach remains limited, covering an average of just five countries concentrated mainly in upper-middle income countries and emerging markets. Roche is a notable exception, with access plans covering an average of 12 countries.

Some access efforts are extending into lower-resource settings, with strategies identified for 74% of assessed cancer products in lower-middle-income countries and 19% in low-income countries.

Six companies now have multi-country inclusive business models designed to reach underserved patients, up from five in 2024. Together these models reach all 113 LMICs covered in the Index.

Most companies report growing patient reach, although progress varies across models and gaps in product-level reporting limit understanding of their impact.

Companies are expanding and adapting partnerships to extend models to more countries and respond to local needs.

Embedding these models for the long term is a growing focus for companies, through efforts to strengthen financial sustainability and, in some cases, link access goals to corporate governance and executive accountability.