Finnish cancer patients to receive free experimental lung cancer drug through national trial

A new national research program will provide Finnish patients with rare lung cancer access to an experimental drug up to 2.5 years earlier than standard approval processes, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) announced Thursday.

The FINACCESS trial, coordinated by HUS Cancer Center, offers the medication at no cost to both patients and hospitals across Finland. The first drug targets non-small cell lung cancer caused by a specific gene mutation, which occurs in only 1–4% of cases and primarily affects non-smokers. Approximately ten patients in Finland are diagnosed with this subtype annually.

“The drug is the first available treatment for this particular cancer form in Finland,” said Katriina Jalkanen, chief physician at HUS Cancer Center’s clinical research unit. “While the patient group is small, this represents a significant advancement for those previously limited to chemotherapy.”

Participants will receive the tablet-form medication through monthly visits to their regional university hospital. The trial includes drugs in late-stage clinical development or already approved elsewhere but not yet licensed in Europe. Pharmaceutical companies provide the treatments free of charge in exchange for real-world efficacy and safety data.

Johanna Mattsson, HUS Cancer Center’s chief physician, noted the program benefits all parties: patients gain early access, hospitals receive cutting-edge treatments without cost, and companies obtain valuable usage data.

Negotiations are underway to expand the trial to include additional cancer drugs by autumn, with two more pharmaceutical firms in discussions to join the multi-year initiative.