The Oncology Data Network (ODN) is a cooperative collaborative European data‐sharing platform providing near real‐time information on cancer medicine usage at scale. Its rationale and vision were described in a recent Commentary. Figure 1 summarizes recent advances in oncology and the consequent emergence of significant new challenges that the ODN seeks to address. 

Faced with these challenges, recognition is growing that the oncology community needs to share information on its daily decision making. By pooling routine clinical experiences, validation of specific therapeutic approaches within each cancer subtype will become achievable. Professional associations, regulatory agencies, research institutions, and health economists are increasingly focusing on real‐world data (RWD) as a powerful tool for tackling clinical and policy‐related challenges. In rare diseases, which we now know the field of oncology exemplifies, RWD is particularly important because the feasibility of conventional trials diminishes when eligible patient populations shrink. A recent publication stated that RWD enables “crucial insights into quality of care and effectiveness”. In addition, insights gained from the ODN could help quantify the value each treatment brings, paving the way for new value‐based pricing models. Importantly, the ODN could also expedite clinical research by providing an efficient means of searching for specific characteristics of non-i