Exploring the Future of Cancer Care at the Time100 Health Impact Dinner

The world has entered a new era of cancer care – and as scientific advances have dramatically improved outcomes, patients are more informed and empowered than ever to be their own treatment advocates.

Novartis is leaning into this shift in oncology and adapting to a world where the needs, behaviors and expectations of patients are all changing. As younger people are diagnosed with cancer at higher rates and older patients live longer, the newly-diagnosed are determined to manage their disease as part of everyday life.

Novartis US President Victor Bultó shared his perspective on this evolution last week as TIME celebrated and convened the most influential individuals in health – from scientists and doctors, to advocates, educators and policy makers -- at the TIME100 Health Impact Dinner in New York to explore how we can all be prepared to lead, and meet the needs of patients in this new era.

“Today's patients prioritize not just survival but the ability to thrive, approaching cancer as a manageable condition with a focus on prevention and early intervention,” he said.

There’s been a 79% increase in the global incidence of early onset cancer, and those patients want to work through their treatment because they are in the most productive years of their lives.

By embracing the evolving needs of patients, Novartis is committed to setting new standards in oncology and creating a future where cancer care is both inclusive and transformative.

Serving the Emerging Needs of Today's Cancer Patients 

As Bultó shared on the panel, there has been a 79% increase in the global incidence of early onset cancer¹. At the same time, people 85 years and older are the fastest-growing segment of cancer survivors. Often young at heart and still active, they have mindsets and lifestyles beyond what previous generations experienced at the same chronological age².

Our strategy is rooted in the belief that the companies who lead in oncology tomorrow will be those that understand and anticipate the needs of today’s generation of cancer patients — not just those who solely innovate next-generation treatments in the lab.

Of course, Novartis will never stop innovating: As a company, we have a track record of success in pioneering treatment approaches, from cell and gene therapies to siRNA and radioligand therapies. By being at the cutting edge of innovation, we have learned that the way we bring breakthrough medicines and technologies to patients must be as innovative as the science itself.

Take radioligand therapy, a cutting-edge approach to cancer treatment that combines a targeting compound (ligand) with a radioactive isotope (radioisotope) and binds to specific biomarkers, delivering targeted radiation directly to certain types of cancer cells, regardless of where they are in the body.

We believe in radioligand therapies as the next wave of innovation in cancer care, because experimenting with the building blocks of radioligands may lead to treatments for a broad range of cancers. 

They’re a new option in the cancer toolkit that targets the delivery of radiation directly where it’s needed, with the goal of limiting damage to surrounding tissue, and they’re made specifically for each patient.

Above all, we know the future of cancer care will be increasingly personalized, with both new therapies and new approaches to meet evolving patient expectations.

“We are looking at incorporating both the medical science component, but also the social component, the deep understanding of the lived experience of these patients,” says Bultó. “By merging these two, we can hopefully do much better for patients.”

In addition to our marketed products and a pipeline of 30+ assets in development tailored to the evolving needs of today’s patients, we are acting on our responsibility to also make a difference in areas beyond treatment innovation. By partnering across the ecosystem, our goal is to advance the conversation around earlier detection, shape policy and connect these next generation patients to pioneering care.

One of the most transformative ways we are doing this is our work in breast cancer.

Taking a Bold Approach to Advancing Breast Health

Today, we are taking new approaches and forging innovative partnerships to reach at-risk groups and emphasize the critical role of early detection and prevention. 

We’ve spent over 30 years advancing innovations in breast cancer. Despite all the scientific progress, this disease continues to devastate people and their families, and we can do more. 

“Breast cancer is going to affect 1 in 8 women in this room throughout your lifetime, throughout our lifetime³. As a father of three daughters, that just profoundly distresses me, and I have to ask myself, what we can collectively do,” Bultó shared at the event.

Our efforts are rooted in the insight that women aren't prioritizing annual breast exams: In response, we launched a breast health awareness campaign called “Your Attention, Please,” at the Super Bowl, that is based on frank realities you may not normally hear from a pharmaceutical company: Breasts get too much attention in the media, but pop culture distracts from what’s truly important--the urgency of breast health.

We wanted to create a movement and drive societal change, attracting attention to encourage testing. From a medical perspective, we know that if caught early, breast cancer patients have over a 99% survival rate⁴.  In the first 8 weeks, the campaign drove 10,000+ visitors to YourAttentionPlease.com to find breast cancer screening sites and to learn more about risk.

Building on this momentum, and in order to turn that attention into action, we are a founding sponsor of the Alliance for Breast Cancer Policy, helping to push for improvements to breast cancer care through policy innovation. Our top priority is passing the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act, which would require private insurers—including high-deductible plans—to fully cover the cost of diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging.

This kind of legislation addresses a critical gap. While routine mammograms are generally covered, they aren’t always enough. Many women will require additional diagnostic tests – especially those with denser breast tissue, which is most common in younger individuals and those in the Black community.

Many people are forced to delay or forgo follow-up tests because of unexpected out-of-pocket costs. These delays can result in later-stage diagnoses, fewer options, and worse outcomes. 

These are outcomes that those who share our goal of transforming the future of cancer care can influence and change, together.

The company proudly served as the premier partner of the TIME100 Health Impact Dinner. In addition, Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan was named to the 2025 TIME100 Most Influential People in Health list. 

Learn more about Novartis’ work in oncology here and our work to connect the next generation of oncology patients to pioneering care.