Novartis is launching a three-front push to close healthcare gaps in heart disease and cancer, expanding initiatives to roughly triple its footprint by 2030.
The three initiatives include the new Inclusive Health Accelerators (IHA) program. Launched in five U.S. cities this week, IHAs are designed to support early detection of prostate and breast cancer and address care gaps in underserved populations. Novartis will use the community-driven IHA model to support access to education, free screenings, diagnosis and follow‑up care.
Basel-based Novartis will collaborate with local groups in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston and Baltimore to deliver the services. The initiative builds on existing U.S. partnerships, such as the Health Assessments and Rapid Transformation program that Novartis launched last year.
Novartis disclosed the new IHA program alongside the expansion of two existing initiatives. The Swiss drugmaker is expanding the rollout of its Community Health Initiatives (CHIs) to speed up diagnosis and treatment for heart disease and cancer in emerging economies.
Novartis piloted CHIs in Vietnam. Working with the government, Novartis screened 400,000 people in 18 months. The program linked 35,000 people to local treatment. Control rates for high blood pressure and diabetes increased during the program. Encouraged by the findings, Novartis has set up CHIs in Rwanda and Bolivia and is committed to bringing the program to at least seven more countries by 2030.
Cardio4Cities, an initiative developed by the nonprofit Novartis Foundation, is also expanding into more countries. The Novartis Foundation created the program to improve cardiometabolic disease prevention, detection and management through data, artificial intelligence and partnerships. A pilot assessment of the model, which included blood pressure testing at samba schools, reported improved heart health.
The program is operational in eight countries, including the U.S. Novartis plans to have Cardio4Cities up and running in 30 major cities in 23 countries by 2030. By improving blood pressure control, the model could reduce stroke and heart attack rates.
Novartis’ focus on cardiovascular disease and breast and prostate cancer aligns with the company’s R&D pipeline and portfolio. Last year, heart failure medicine Entresto and prostate cancer drug Pluvicto were (PDF) among Novartis’ best-selling products.
