Oncology clinical trials are increasingly conducted globally, with recent trends indicating a growing share of trial activity outside of the U.S. In 2025, 80% of patients in pivotal trials supporting novel cancer drug approvals by the FDA were enrolled outside of the U.S.1 Such global trials are critical for generating data across distinct regional and…
It has been a busy start to our 30th year and we’re excited to share more updates from the first half of 2026. Here’s what you can read more about in this newsletter: What’s Happening at Friends?: Catch up on Friends recent public meetings and advocates webinars on External Control Arms (ECA), Next-Generation Therapies, and the Biomarker Qualification Program (BQP).…
My son Neev was four years old when he slid his winning Bingo card across the table to another child. “In my game,” he said, “everybody wins.” He meant it. He lived it. He was the kind of child who made sure every new kid at preschool had someone to sit with at lunch, no teacher had to ask.…
On May 6, Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy co-hosted a public meeting, “Unlocking Next-Generation Therapies” to explore opportunities to advance next-generation therapies, including innovative approaches in cell therapy development. The oncology landscape has shifted dramatically over the last 30 years, transitioning from chemotherapy-based treatment toward molecularly and immunologically…
As we begin our 30th anniversary year, we’re reflecting on what’s been possible through partnership with advocates like you and sharing some of the progress we’ve made together. In this newsletter, you’ll find updates on our recent work and a preview of what’s ahead. Here’s what you can read more about in this newsletter: What’s…
The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) allows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees from drug sponsors that streamline reviews of new drug applications, promoting timely patient access without compromising safety. When the Act is reauthorized every five years, industry and FDA discuss goals to support and improve the drug review process. With PDUFA negotiations for the 2027 reauthorization now…
Friends had an exciting year filled with new projects, impactful collaborations, and continued progress toward advancing innovative cancer research. A heartfelt thank you to our advocate community for your time, insight, and partnership in 2025. Your voices and contributions continue to strengthen our shared mission to advance science, policy, and patient access. We look forward…
On November 17, Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) convened or an advocates-focused webinar to discuss key themes from the 2025 Annual Meeting and examine how patient experience informs evidence generation, trial design, and regulatory decision-making. We were honored to feature advocate panelists, Kristin McJunkins, Misha Mehta, Susan Rouse, Carol Vallett, and Chris white, who drew…
On Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) hosted its 18th Annual Meeting, bringing together experts from industry, academia, regulatory agencies, and patient advocacy. Over the past few months, Friends members Bernat Navarro-Serer, Hillary Andrews, and Mark Stewart hosted biweekly calls with expert working groups to discuss pressing topics in oncology clinical research that led to white papers released before the event. Each session at the Annual Meeting began with a brief presentation by the moderator,…
In this quarter’s issue, we are excited to share updates on some of the innovative work happening at Friends, including our latest efforts in advancing AI in oncology, upcoming events, and important developments in cancer research. What’s Happening at Friends?: Dive into our ai.RECIST Project, a cutting-edge initiative exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for tumor…
