Ontario Fast-Tracks Access to Six Breakthrough Cancer Drugs Through FAST Program

FAST program improves cancer drug access, connecting patients to life-extending treatments up to a year sooner

TORONTO — The Ontario government is accelerating access to six breakthrough cancer treatments through its first-in-Canada Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments (FAST) program, allowing patients to receive life-extending therapies up to a year sooner than under traditional approval timelines.

The initiative, led by the Ontario Ministry of Health, is designed to reduce delays in public drug funding and improve outcomes for patients facing cancer diagnoses. Since October 2025, six cancer drugs have been approved through the FAST pilot, marking a significant shift in how quickly Ontarians can access new treatments.

“For every Ontarian facing a cancer diagnosis, timely access to high-quality treatment can make all the difference,” said Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Through the FAST program, we’re accelerating access to life-saving therapies across the province, bringing hope, peace of mind, and transformative care to those who need it most.”

For Ontarians facing a cancer diagnosis, timely access to treatment can make all the difference.

That’s why our government is accelerating access to six life-saving therapies, bringing hope, peace of mind, and care to those who need it most.

🔗https://t.co/UwQXbFBs3t pic.twitter.com/Xs88Z0UKUY

— Sylvia Jones (@SylviaJonesMPP) January 22, 2026

Cancer drugs fast-tracked for public funding

The six treatments approved through FAST are used to treat a range of cancers, including lung, leukemia, prostate, lymphoma, colorectal and liver cancers:

• TAGRISSO – Lung cancer

• SCEMBLIX – Chronic myeloid leukemia

• NUBEQA – Prostate cancer

• CALQUENCE – Lymphoma

• OPDIVO with YERVOY – Colorectal cancer (combination therapy)

• OPDIVO with YERVOY – Liver cancer (combination therapy)

Ontario expects to fast-track additional cancer drugs in the coming months. Under current national timelines, Canadians can wait nearly two years for new publicly funded medicines — approximately a year longer than patients in other developed countries. The FAST program aims to close that gap by accelerating funding for seven to ten high-priority cancer drugs annually.

A new approach to cancer care

FAST prioritizes medicines approved through Project Orbis, an international initiative that allows regulators to jointly review promising cancer therapies. By aligning Ontario’s funding decisions with these accelerated reviews, the province is reducing barriers that have historically delayed access to treatment.

The program is part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, Ontario’s broader effort to modernize the health-care system and ensure patients receive timely, effective care.

Industry reaction

The announcement was welcomed by Innovative Medicines Canada, which represents Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical sector.

“Innovative Medicines Canada applauds the Government of Ontario for delivering on its promise to accelerate access to life-extending cancer treatments for Ontarians,” said Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO of the organization. “By leading the way on FAST, Ontario is setting a clear standard for the rest of the country.”

Key context

Ontario invested $9.5 billion in the Ontario Drug Benefit Program last year, including approximately $2.75 billion for cancer drugs and supportive therapies delivered in the community. The FAST initiative is a three-year pilot that will be evaluated for long-term sustainability and patient impact.

As cancer treatment continues to evolve rapidly, provincial officials say FAST positions Ontario as a leader in ensuring patients gain faster access to cutting-edge, publicly funded therapies when they need them most.

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