Miguel Bronchud, Veteran Cancer Clinician and Researcher, shared on LinkedIn:
In the Journal of Clinical Oncology (American Society of Clinical Oncology) on ‘the management and economics/administrative practices and problems in the USA’.
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Title: Guide Through the Fog: The Business of Oncology
Authors: Blase N. Polite, Michael A. Kolodziej, John M. Burke
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It is a special series published by the JCO Oncology Practice (an American Society of Clinical Oncology journal) in August 2026, designed to help clinicians, health systems, and stakeholders navigate the complex economics of modern cancer care in the United States .
Issues are of course related, but often different elsewhere, particularly in public health systems paid for by taxpayers in Europe .
But the pharmaceutical budget problem (even with different costs) remains a huge concern, both in the USA and Europe, because the yearly budget of a oncology unit is under a lot of inflationary pressures.
And yet heads of hospitals cancer units often need to ‘share the same cake’ of previous institutional pharmacy budgets with different drug options– struggling to keep a ‘balanced budget’ incorporating new expensive treatments and if at all possible also cheaper biosimilars as valid alternatives to top mature drugs (out of patent protection).
Oncology, besides a huge humanitarian problem and cause of much suffering globally, has evolved into a monumental global business with profound implications for the US and world economies.
Direct medical expenditures for cancer care in the United States will soon reach $250 billion US dollars (USD) annually.
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Title: Medical Care Costs Associated with Cancer Survivorship in the United States
Authors: Angela B Mariotto, Lindsey Enewold, Jingxuan Zhao, Christopher A Zeruto, K Robin Yabroff
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While the global pharmaceutical industry is projected to generate $441 billion USD in oncology therapeutic revenue by 2029 – with postapproval revenue far outstripping initial R&D investment.
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Title: Research and Development Spending to Bring a Single Cancer Drug to Market and Revenues After Approval
Authors: Vinay Prasad, Sham Mailankody
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Yet, for those delivering care and the patients receiving it, this is an increasingly unsettling era.
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Title: Epilogue: Cancer Care in the United States – Jekyll and Hyde
Author: Derek Raghavan
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In this special series of JCO Oncology Practice, prestigious authors unravel the complexities of the USA current system – examining its origins, navigating the realities of consolidation and shifting revenue flows, addressing workforce challenges, and throughout offering concrete strategies for a more rational, value-based future.
The series opens with an examination of the systemic drivers behind the rapid consolidation of cancer care, provided by Burke.
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Title: Consolidation of Oncology Practices
Author: John M. Burke
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Title: From Burnout to Buyout: Private Equity’s Growing Appeal in Oncology
Authors: Martin Palmeri, Kelley D. Simpson, Adria Warren
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And…offer a deep dive into an increasingly influential yet often opaque player in this landscape: private equity.
It provides a balanced/comprehensive USA framework for practices navigating a transition from physician-owned to corporate-backed models.
A recurring theme throughout this series is that drug costs and revenues serve as the driving force of the current oncology ecosystem.
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Title: High Cost of Cancer Medicines in the United States: Opportunities for Policy Reforms
Authors: : Ariadna Tibau, Kerstin Noelle Vokinger, Aaron S. Kesselheim, Thomas J. Hwang
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On balance authors make a compelling case for a Health Technology Assessment process to evaluate therapeutic benefits and negotiate pricing on the basis of objective clinical value?
The series tackles the challenges of corporate consolidation, venture capital influence, and administrative friction in oncology.
The series also focuses on the human toll of systemic churn and rural healthcare crises, advocating for policies that prioritize high-value, compassionate care.”
You can also read:
FDA Approves Daraxonrasib: Here is What Oncologists Have to Say
