ACCESS TO TARGETED
THERAPY ABROAD
Patients travel for targeted therapy when a drug is approved elsewhere but not at home, when specialist expertise is limited domestically, or to access clinical trials not open in their country. Coordination between treating teams is what makes it work.
analyticsAt a Glance
- check_circleMany targeted therapies approved abroad are not yet available in every country
- check_circleBiomarker or NGS testing is required to confirm eligibility before travel
- check_circleIndia, China, and South Korea offer approved targeted agents at significantly lower cost
- check_circleCancerFax helps identify hospitals and doctors offering specific targeted drugs internationally
Cross-Border Access Pathways
Several distinct pathways exist for accessing targeted therapy abroad. Each has different logistics, different risks, and different realistic outcomes.
Regulatory Arbitrage
A drug approved by FDA or EMA but not yet in your country. Patients establish care with an oncologist in the destination country and receive the approved treatment there. Requires ongoing monitoring coordination between teams.
Specialist Centre Expertise
For rare mutations or uncommon cancer types, the difference in clinical experience between a general oncology centre and a major academic centre with dedicated tumour-specific programmes is real and clinically significant.
Cross-Border Clinical Trials
Some trials enrol internationally. Patients willing to travel for initial visits and periodic assessments can access investigational agents not available domestically. ClinicalTrials.gov lists international sites.
Cost-Driven Access
Patients from high-cost systems pursue treatment in countries with lower drug costs or stronger generic availability. Generic imatinib and gefitinib make some markets significantly cheaper. Quality varies and requires careful evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination — travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
Questions About Accessing Targeted Therapy Outside Your Country?
CancerFax has helped patients from over 50 countries access targeted therapy abroad -- coordinating between treating teams, identifying the right centres, and supporting the full treatment journey.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified oncologist before making treatment decisions.