Regulatory approval for new cancer treatments does not guarantee patient access, as therapies must still navigate complex national pricing, reimbursement delays, and limited local infrastructure, according to clinical oncologist Sola Adeleke at the Community Oncology Global Congress 2026. Speaking in a presentation organized by OncoDaily, Adeleke highlighted that patients treated in district hospitals often face restricted access to molecular profiling, clinical trials, and specialized multidisciplinary teams compared to those at major cancer centers.
The Gap Between Drug Approval and Local Delivery
Regulatory greenlights from bodies like the European Medicines Agency mark only the start of a lengthy journey for innovative therapies. According to data presented by Adeleke, an Academic Clinical Fellow at King’s College London, nations across Western Europe experience an average delay of approximately 655 days between regulatory approval and national-level pricing and health technology assessments. Even after pricing decisions clear, hospitals must establish local stocking, secure adequate staffing, and build clinical capacity to manage patients receiving the treatment.
To streamline this pathway, the European Union introduced the EU Joint Clinical Assessment in January 2025, shifting clinical evaluations to a centralized European framework. Adeleke noted that pediatric low-grade glioma drug tovorafenib saw rapid movement under this system, receiving endorsement on April 30, publication on June 19, and a joint assessment initiation by the end of June. However, individual member states still retain independent control over economic valuations and reimbursement terms, meaning joint clinical assessments speed up evaluation without guaranteeing universal availability.
Tackling Precision Oncology Disparities in Community Hospitals
With cancer cases projected to rise 21% and deaths expected to increase 32% by 2040, healthcare infrastructure faces mounting pressure across both comprehensive centers and local facilities. While basic diagnostic tools like immunohistochemistry and PCR remain widespread, advanced testing methods—including multigene sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and liquid biopsy—frequently concentrate in specialist centers, leaving district hospitals behind.
To bridge this divide, software-based decision-support platforms like Cure-IO offer a way to predict immunotherapy responses and toxicities using existing routine data such as imaging, pathology, and clinical laboratory records. By running locally within district hospitals without requiring specialized new machinery or sample shipping, such tools aim to bolster multidisciplinary team discussions while leaving final treatment choices entirely with the treating clinicians.
Did You Know?
The EU Joint Clinical Assessment framework was established to reduce administrative duplication across member states, allowing clinical evaluations of health technologies to take place jointly at the European level rather than being repeated independently in every country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does European Medicines Agency approval mean a drug is immediately available?
What causes the gap in precision oncology between hospitals?
Advanced diagnostic tools such as multigene sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and liquid biopsies are largely concentrated in specialist centers rather than local district facilities.
How do decision-support tools help community oncology?
Platforms like Cure-IO allow district hospitals to analyze existing routine patient data locally to predict treatment responses and toxicities, strengthening local multidisciplinary discussions without requiring specialized new equipment.
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