Why the federal government urgently needs to fund more cancer research – Los Angeles Times
Posted: September 6, 2017 at 2:44 am
Two weeks ago I lay in a hospital bed at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine and watched a clear, garlicky-smelling bag of my re-engineered white blood cells drip into my veins.
The bag contained not only my collected T cells but also magic sauce from Novartis, the drug company financing a trial of a gene therapy for my specific mutation of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.
This living drug, a CAR-T treatment, may revitalize my immune system and erase my myeloma tumors and save my life. It could also kill me.
Last month, the Federal Drug Administration approved the first CAR-T therapy, Kymriah, to treat a leukemia that mainly affects children. My myeloma trial is an outgrowth of that promising effort. Researchers say that just one of my retooled cells can kill 100,000 cancer cells, and theyve infused millions of them.
But no one can guarantee me a happy ending. From my research, I figure I have a 1-in-9 shot at beating my wily myeloma and then for only a year or so.
Still, I consider myself lucky. Fewer than 5% of cancer patients will get into potentially beneficial clinical trials this year, and I am one of them.
Since 2003, under Democratic and Republican administrations, the National Institutes of Health budget has been cut by 15.5%, after inflation. This has left far too little NIH money for basic research and prevention, including for oncology trials. Drug companies now underwrite about 71% of the thousands of cancer trials that are conducted in the U.S. each year.
This sets back basic cancer research in several ways. Because drug companies are investing millions, if not billions, to develop proprietary, patented medicines, they dont share their discoveries as openly as the NIH does. Perhaps worse, they recklessly duplicate trials for certain common cancers, such as melanoma, to the point where around 40% fizzle out for a lack of patients to test.
By contrast, my doctors and I couldnt find a trial slot for my disease, from Seattle to Hackensack, except for the very last opening at Perelman.
Initially I was rated behind another desperately ill person and received a gut-punch email: We can not offer you a spot. In the end, I replaced a sick patient who did not meet the trials strict protocols, even though the patient needed treatment as much, or more, than I did.
Leading medical scientists say it is in our national interest to fund far more research, especially in cutting-edge immunology, which appears close to curing blood cancers. But although there is surely room in President Trumps 2018 federal budget of $4.1 trillion to fund more government cancer trials, he wants to cut the NIH's budget further, by nearly 20%.
To think we are going to stop funding biomedical studies and lose skilled scientists seems almost crazy, Dr. Stephen Grupp, a leading leukemia researcher at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, told me. This is the time to invest, not back off.
The American Cancer Societys chief medical officer, Dr. Otis Brawley, noted in a telephone interview that the Department of Defense spends about as much money on bands and music as the NIH spends on breast cancer: Where are our national priorities?
If we do not invest in more research, there is a good chance that we could cede our leadership in biomedical innovation to China or other countries. Had I not gotten the last slot at Perelman, my oncologist was suggesting we explore Beijing, where Chinese researchers are reporting incredible myeloma outcomes. All I had to do to get a trial slot, apparently, was hand over $50,000 cash.
Whether the breakthroughs happen in Philadelphia, Seattle or Beijing, cures for diseases like mine are on the horizon. The sum of medical knowledge doubles every 73 days or so. Researchers, including my own doctor at Perelman, foresee a day in the early 2020s when people with blood cancers will be cured by precision medicine immunology as outpatients.
Millions of patients will follow me, and many of them will be cured. But they could be cured in the next two or three years, rather than five to seven, if Trump were aggressively expanding the NIH budget. Starting by, say, buying fewer Army bass drums and more cancer bullets.
Frank Lalli was the founding editor of New West magazine. He is the author of Your Best Health Care Now.
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
The rest is here:
Why the federal government urgently needs to fund more cancer research - Los Angeles Times
- Gene Therapy | Doctor | Patient.co.uk [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2015]
- Gene Therapy | Doctor | Patient [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2015]
- Dr Rajiv Desai Blog Archive GENE THERAPY [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2015]
- Local Doctor Leads Study Of Gene Therapy Treatment For ... [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2016]
- Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Genetics [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2016]
- Worlds Leading Biomarkers Congress | CPD Points ... [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2016]
- Why the super-rich are ploughing billions into the booming 'immortality industry' - Evening Standard [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2017]
- What to Know About Charlie Gard, the Terminally Ill Baby Trump Wants to Help - TIME [Last Updated On: July 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 4th, 2017]
- Cancer treatment is swiftly moving toward individualized molecular and genetic tools that Sparrow Cancer Center's ... - City Pulse [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2017]
- Tumor gene testing urged to tell if drug targets your cancer - ABC News [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2017]
- Tumor gene testing urged to tell if drug targets your cancer | KRQE ... - KRQE News 13 [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2017]
- Tumor gene testing urged to tell if drug targets your cancer - The ... - The Mainichi [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Charlie Gard: Medical experts weigh in on case of terminally-ill baby - The Independent [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- High-tech solutions top the list in the fight against eye disease - Engadget [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2017]
- 'Prehab' therapy helps cancer patients prepare for treatment - KTBS [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2017]
- Baby Charlie remains on life support as parents fight doctors for experimental treatment - CBC.ca [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2017]
- Novel cancer treatment wins endorsement of FDA advisers - Washington Post [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2017]
- Ocean Springs parents fight to save 3-year-old daughter from fatal genetic condition - WGNO [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2017]
- US doctor who wanted to treat Charlie Gard had 'financial interest' says Great Ormond Street - Metro [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2017]
- New cancer therapy in clinical trial at Nebraska Medical Center has ... - Omaha World-Herald [Last Updated On: August 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 1st, 2017]
- Scientists successfully doctor human embroyo - Examiner Enterprise [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- WBZ-TV Riders Take On Pan-Mass Challenge - CBS Boston / WBZ [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- Gene editing breakthrough: Perspective from a geneticist and a pastor - WTSP 10 News [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- Indian-origin doctor helps gene editing of human embryos - Times of India [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- New Gene Therapy for Vision Loss Proven Safe in Humans ... [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2017]
- Springfield Mom Works to Raise Awareness after Son Diagnosed with Rare Genetic Disorder - KSMU Radio [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2017]
- Cancer's Newest Miracle Cure - TIME [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2017]
- Families with kids with Jordan's Syndrome meet for study to learn more about rare gene mutation - FOX 5 DC [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2017]
- Springfield Mom Works to Raise Awareness after Son Diagnosed with Rare Genetic Disorder - KRCU [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2017]
- Exclusive interview with Discovery's First in Human sickle cell ... - Monsters and Critics.com [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2017]
- DHK - Representative Chris Walsh, 66, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a white blood cell cancer), Framingham, with Dr ... - WEEI.com [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2017]
- Life Lessons: Next generation testing - WFMZ Allentown [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2017]
- Potential therapy for eye condition - WTAJ [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2017]
- New 3D-drug screening aims to ease economic burden of rare muscle diseases - Medical Xpress [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2017]
- Doctor on new cancer treatment: 'genetically engineered, tumor-killing factory' - The Business Journal [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2017]
- Baltimore 5K Aims to Raise Awareness about Sickle Cell Disease - Afro American [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2017]
- Stanford Center Hopes to Take Stem Cell and Gene Therapies to a New Level - Sickle Cell Anemia News [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2017]
- Gilead is buying Kite Pharma, a cancer-fighting Santa Monica biotech firm, for $11.9 billion - Los Angeles Times [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2017]
- Man describes new FDA-approved gene therapy for leukemia that changed his life - fox4kc.com [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2017]
- First gene therapy to treat cancer gets FDA approval; UM only Michigan hospital to use it - Detroit Free Press [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2017]
- New 'hit-and-run' gene editing tool temporarily rewrites genetics to treat cancer and HIV - GeekWire [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2017]
- UTSA Presidential Lecture featuring Leonard Pinchuk - UTSA Today [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2017]
- South Bend man a 'walking miracle' after cancer treatment breakthrough - South Bend Tribune [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2017]
- Gene therapy - Doctor.ndtv.com [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2018]
- what is gene therapy? - Bluebird Bio [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2018]
- Oncotype DX: Genomic Test to Inform Breast Cancer Treatment [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2018]
- Gene Therapy: The Future of Vision Treatment [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2019]
- Gene Therapy Questions | FAQs - Dana-Farber/Boston ... [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2019]
- Gene therapy might be a cure for "bubble boy disease ... [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2019]
- Xconomy: SMA Moment: Will Gene Therapy Shift Treatment ... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2019]
- A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Factor IX ... [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2019]
- Targeted Therapy | Treating Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma Hub [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2019]
- Why the focus of autism research is shifting away from searching for a 'cure' - NBCNews.com [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2019]
- Here's What Happened to Dr. Sharpe on 'New Amsterdam' Details! - Distractify [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2019]
- Gene therapy drug priced at $2 million saves North Carolina babys life - WTKR News 3 [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2019]
- Pollard and Norris in the race for Pos. 2 of the Public Hospital District 4 - Snoqualmie Valley Record [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2019]
- Three to be honored as Distinguished Clay High School Alumni - Press Publications Inc. [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2019]
- Nearly Half of Poland's SMA Patients on Track to Get Spinraza, Experts Say - SMA News Today [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2019]
- Genentech to Present Results of First Prospective Trial Using Blood-based Next Generation Sequencing Which Successfully Identifies People for... [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2019]
- Beyonc's father Mathew Knowles has breast cancer: Here's what you need to know about the disease in men - Yahoo Lifestyle [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2019]
- Study Measures Prognosis for Breast Cancer Patients with High 21-gene Recurrence Score Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Endocrine Therapy -... [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2019]
- Beyoncs father diagnosed with breast cancer - Houston Chronicle [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2019]
- What one doctor thinks about drug shortages and how to solve them - STAT [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2019]
- The facts about breast cancer awareness | News - The Albany Herald [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2019]
- Metastatic Breast Cancer: What You Should Know - University of Michigan Health System News [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2019]
- John Geyman on the Failure of Obamacare the Medical Industrial Complex and the Single Payer Solution - Corporate Crime Reporter [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2019]
- Quebec to cover revolutionary cancer treatment for types of leukemia and non-Hodgkins lymphoma - CTV News [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2019]
- Deepak Chopra Has Never Been Sick - The New Yorker [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Daughter drew inspiration from mom in battle with breast cancer, stresses early detection - Gainesville Daily Register [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Cleft palate or lip is one of the most common birth defects worldwide, but do you know what it is? - ABC News [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Pearland family fighting to get $2.1 million drug for toddler with rare genetic disease - KHOU.com [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Gene-Therapy Treatment Could Help People with Macular Degeneration - Healthline [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- A Netflix Series Explores the Brave New World of Crispr - WIRED [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Save your child from paediatric cancer: Know what to look out for - TheHealthSite [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2019]
- The 'Magic' Behind Every Successful Blockbuster Drug - DailyWealth [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2019]
- $2.1 million drug approved for Pearland toddler with rare genetic disease - KHOU.com [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2019]
- Genentech's Tecentriq in Combination With Avastin Increased Overall Survival and Progression-free Survival in People With Unresectable Hepatocellular... [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2019]
- Why Are More Black Women Dying From the Most Common Reproductive Cancer? - Mother Jones [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2019]
- 5 Biotech and Pharmaceutical Innovation Trends in 2019 - BioSpace [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2019]
- Breast Cancer in Men | Outlook - Big Bear Grizzly [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2019]