The EFPIA Oncology Platform will today launch its new White Paper, at a high-level policy event in Toledo, Spain, organised in collaboration with Farmaindustria. The paper calls for more coordinated action to reduce persistent disparities in access to targeted cancer treatments and biomarker testing across Europe.

The White Paper, entitled “Advancing precision oncology treatment and testing across Europe: An evidence-based roadmap for healthcare system stakeholders to improve cancer care”, brings together policymakers, clinicians, patient representatives, payers, industry leaders and regional and national health stakeholders to discuss how to translate scientific progress in a more targeted and personalized treatment of cancer into equitable access for patients.

Taking place at a pivotal moment for EU health and innovation policy – with the continued implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a newly launched Joint Action on Personalised Cancer Medicine (JA PCM), the roll-out of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and discussions on the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – the event aims to provide concrete, evidence-based solutions to close persistent access and availability gaps in precision oncology across EU Member States.

Despite major advances in molecular diagnostics, genomic profiling and targeted therapies, access to precision oncology remains highly uneven within and between countries. Low awareness, an inadequate infrastructure and workforce constraints, as well as outdated reimbursement models continue to limit patients’ access to timely and personalised cancer care.

At the centre of the discussion is the White Paper’s practical implementation toolkit for Member States, which draws on fifteen case studies and promising practices from across Europe and beyond, and the role of EU-level policy levers in supporting Member States to scale best practices and reduce disparities. The paper identifies recurring system “archetypes” that hinder progress and sets out targeted, sequenced policy actions across three priority areas:

1. raising awareness among patients, healthcare professionals and payers about the value and practical implications of precision oncology;
2. strengthening infrastructure and workforce capacity, including molecular testing platforms, multidisciplinary tumour boards and training pathways;
3. aligning funding and reimbursement systems so that diagnostics and targeted therapies advance together in a timely manner.

The launch event in Toledo provides a platform for national and regional authorities, European stakeholders and the cancer community to exchange practical experiences and discuss how the White Paper’s recommendations can be tailored to different health system contexts and levels of maturity. Spain offers a particularly relevant context for this discussion, given its decentralised healthcare system and the central role of the Autonomous Regions in organising and delivering cancer care. The event aims to foster dialogue, identify implementation priorities and build momentum for coordinated action at national and EU level.

Through this White Paper, the EFPIA Oncology Platform encourages Member States to learn from one another and build on proven models already working across Europe. By scaling what already delivers results and adapting it thoughtfully to local realities, countries can collectively reduce disparities in access to precision oncology and move towards more equitable and robust cancer care for all patients.