Precision oncology, a treatment approach that tailors therapeutic interventions to each individual’s unique molecular profile, has transformed oncology care and is ushering in a new wave of therapies. Precision medicines such as ADCs (antibody-drug conjugates), which specifically target cancer cells, help to spare healthy cells and minimise side-effects, are now being widely used in cancer treatment. These and other precision medicines are being registered in countries around the world, where many of them are designated for use in public healthcare.
Geographical disparities in access to treatment and the impact these have on treatment outcomes nevertheless remain a critical issue.
In South Africa, for instance, innovative therapies are generally available for private patients but, with persistent constraints on the public healthcare system, which serves the vast majority of the population, there are notable gaps in access. Recent research conducted by the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science – with support from AbbVie – set out to quantify the extent of these gaps in the Middle East and Africa and to identify what is needed to close them.
“With cancer cases globally projected to continue rising, we have two core objectives,” says Bert Maddens, General Manager of AbbVie South Africa. “Not only are we fundamentally committed to advancing scientific innovation in cancer care, we are also commitment to promoting access to precision cancer treatments, especially in countries and regions where this remains low.”
The IQVIA research report, released in August 2025 and entitled Oncology Therapy Access in the Era of Personalized Medicine, presents the institute’s findings on trends in regulatory approval and reimbursement for therapies indicated for solid tumours and haematological malignancies in select countries in the Middle East and Africa. One of the most important findings is that, while multiple oncology drugs were launched globally between 2014 and 2023, most are not registered in the countries analysed, including South Africa.
Of the 183 oncology novel active substances (NASs) launched globally during this time, 52% have been authorised for use in the EU and 31% have been registered for use in Gulf countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In contrast, only 17% have been registered in Egypt and South Africa, and only 5% have been registered in Algeria. South Africa is also the only country in which these therapies are not reimbursed through the public sector (i.e. they are not available in public hospitals and clinics), a defining factor in the country’s cancer care protocols.
“Without efforts to improve access, existing gaps will inevitably widen as oncology therapies become more biologically complex,” says Bert Maddens, “leaving even more patients underserved. That’s why IQVIA’s findings are so important.”
About the IQVIA Report
The IQVIA report examines the factors contributing to challenges in therapy access, scrutinises their implications and highlights ongoing efforts to address them at country level.
One of the key findings of the underlying research is that expanding access to approved therapies, including targeted agents and immunotherapies, is vital to closing outcome gaps and to delivering consistent standards of care across patient populations. This is especially true in South Africa, which has a dual healthcare system and where approximately 85% of the population relies on public healthcare.
One of the key recommendations of the report is therefore that collaboration across the pharmaceutical industry and with other stakeholders is necessary to ensure equitable access to oncology therapies, including precision therapies, particularly in countries that have healthcare budget constraints.
To put this into context, South Africa, with a population of approximately 60 million people (2023) and a relatively low GDP per capita can expect to see a 66% increase in the incidence of cancer and a 69% increase in mortality rates between 2020 and 2040, which will have significant socioeconomic and healthcare system impacts.
Bridging the gaps
AbbVie recognises the importance of bridging gaps in access to oncology therapy in South Africa and is committed to addressing them through innovative solutions and partnerships. The company is actively researching and developing new precision oncology treatments designed to tackle unmet patient needs.
“South Africa’s oncology landscape shows sharp contrasts,” said Maddens. “While the private sector has access to innovative therapies, the majority relying on public healthcare face important access gaps.” In response to these challenges, AbbVie constructively supports South Africa’s efforts around universal health coverage and health technology assessment frameworks, engaging decision makers, clinical experts and healthcare leaders to share expertise and facilitate collaborative solutions that steadily improve access to advanced treatments and help deliver equitable cancer care for all patients.
“As oncology innovation continues to evolve, ensuring patients have access to treatment and preparing healthcare infrastructure to support emerging therapeutics is critical to closing outcome gaps. This requires collaborative efforts between government, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to secure equitable access across regions.”