{"id":428328,"date":"2026-01-23T15:55:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T15:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/428328\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T15:55:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T15:55:15","slug":"ontario-fast-tracking-access-to-six-breakthrough-cancer-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/428328\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario Fast-Tracking Access to Six Breakthrough Cancer Drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"

ONTARIO-The Ontario government says it has approved access to six new life-extending cancer treatments through the Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments (FAST) program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This first-in-Canada initiative is fast-tracking access to breakthrough cancer drugs, giving patients in need faster access to life-changing treatment options. This bold initiative will continue to connect patients to life-saving cancer treatments almost a full year sooner,\u00a0as part of the government\u2019s plan to protect Ontario\u2019s health-care system.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor every Ontarian facing a cancer diagnosis, timely access to high-quality treatment can make all the difference,\u201d said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. \u201cThrough the FAST program, we\u2019re accelerating access to life-saving therapies across the province, bringing hope, peace of mind, and transformative care to those who need it most.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since October 2025, six cancer drugs have now been accelerated for funding through the FAST pilot, giving cancer patients access to the following life-saving treatments:<\/p>\n

TAGRISSO:\u00a0Used to treat lung cancer
\nSCEMBLIX: Used to treat a type of leukemia
\nNUBEQA:\u00a0Used to treat prostate cancer
\nCALQUENCE:\u00a0Used to treat lymphoma
\nOPDIVO with YERVOY:\u00a0Combination therapy used to treat a type of colorectal cancer
\nOPDIVO with YERVOY:\u00a0Combination therapy used to treat a type of liver cancer<\/p>\n

Building on this momentum, Ontario expects to fast-track additional cancer drug approvals in the coming months. Canadian patients currently wait nearly two years to access new publicly funded medicines \u2013 a full year longer than patients in other developed countries. The FAST program accelerates this process by expediting access to seven to ten high-priority cancer drugs every year, helping Ontario patients receive publicly funded treatments up to one year sooner.<\/p>\n

FAST prioritizes medicines approved through Project Orbis, an international initiative that fast-tracks regulatory review for promising cancer therapies. This innovative approach puts patients first and ensures they can receive timely access to the life-changing treatments they need. By removing unnecessary delays, Ontario is leading the way in rethinking how cancer care can be delivered, here in Ontario and across the world.<\/p>\n

Through\u00a0Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care<\/a>, Ontario continues to modernize the health-care system and expand access to critical services, ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time.<\/p>\n

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