01/14/2026 | Leonardo Leão | Diário do Comércio

https://diariodocomercio.com.br/negocios/oncoclinicas-hapvida-ampliam-parceria-oncologia-pesquisa/ 

Cooperation foresees integration of patients into clinical studies, joint training, and expansion of research centers in strategic regions

The Minas Gerais-based medical services company Oncoclínicas&Co and the health operator Hapvida NotreDame have signed an agreement to expand their strategic partnership focused on expanding access to oncology and strengthening clinical research in Brazil. The new agreement complements the commercial partnership established between the parties in 2025, focusing on cancer treatment.

The expansion of the cooperation will allow the integration of Hapvida's oncology patients into research protocols conducted by the Minas Gerais company, creating a direct link between care and innovation.

In the first stage of the partnership, prioritization is planned for referring these patients to Oncoclínicas' clinical studies. The goal is to expand access to advanced therapies and contribute to increased recruitment in oncology research in the country.

In the second phase of the project, the collaboration takes on an even more structural dimension, with both companies advancing joint initiatives in training, scientific development, and conducting collaborative research. Furthermore, the agreement foresees the opening of new research centers in strategic locations for both organizations.

The initiative significantly expands patient recruitment and strengthens diversity in clinical studies, with a presence in practically all regions of Brazil. The expectation of the parties involved is for significant growth in the number of patients included in clinical research, a decisive factor in accelerating the generation of scientific data and the implementation of new treatments.

Fabio Franke, national leader of clinical research at Oncoclínicas&Co, highlights that this partnership represents a structural advancement for clinical oncology research in the country. According to him, expanding patient access to clinical studies will create a robust recruitment platform with unprecedented national scale and population diversity, reaching almost all regions.

“The impact is direct and measurable: more patients participating in research, greater generation of high-quality scientific evidence, and greater agility in the development and incorporation of innovative therapies, strengthening the Brazilian oncology ecosystem,” he states.

Rodrigo Sardenberg, director of clinical research at Hapvida, believes that this union will concretely expand patient access to clinical research and cutting-edge treatments. He emphasizes that the company already has a significant base of patients in studies, supported by a robust database and a network that serves millions of people throughout Brazil.

Sardenberg also points out that clinical research represents one of the most comprehensive scenarios in medicine, integrating treatment, monitoring, and knowledge generation. “Alongside Oncoclínicas, we are building a solid, long-term partnership with the potential to create a robust database and further expand the reach of studies,” he says.

The expansion of the partnership occurs at a particularly favorable time for clinical research in the country, which has unique conditions such as high recruitment potential, population diversity, and a highly qualified medical body. On the other hand, the slowness of regulatory and ethical processes has been one of the main obstacles to the sector's progress.

However, this scenario may change with the recent regulation of the Clinical Research Law (Law No. 14.784/2024), which promises to reduce deadlines, increase legal security, and make Brazil more competitive in the global clinical development landscape.

Other joint actions between Oncoclínicas and Hapvida NotreDame
This is not the first initiative undertaken jointly by the two companies in the healthcare sector. In March 2025, Oncoclínicas&Co and Hapvida NotreDame launched a commercial collaboration, aiming to serve over 600,000 people in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region, with the possibility of expansion to other regions. The cooperation also included radiotherapy services throughout the country.

The initiative combines the expertise of the Minas Gerais-based company in the oncology segment and Hapvida's integrated care model. From the outset, the project showed potential for expansion to other regions of the national territory.

Furthermore, in August of last year, Oncoclínicas also celebrated the sale of 100% of the share capital of the Méier Oncology Hospital (Hospital Marcos Moraes), located in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), to Hapvida NotreDame Intermédica. This transaction was part of the company's strategic plan to divest from non-core operations.

According to the Binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Oncoclínicas remains the owner and operator of the radiotherapy service at the hospital, meeting the demand for this type of treatment. The parties also agreed to expand the commercial agreement to include the Minas Gerais-based company's preference in outpatient oncology and radiotherapy services for Hapvida patients in Rio de Janeiro.