WASHINGTON, DC, November 13, 2017 – Today, President Trump nominated Alex Azar to be the next Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary.

As the former head of one of our nation’s largest employers, Azar understands the multifaceted challenges that a Secretary may face. He previously served as Deputy HHS Secretary and HHS Chief Counsel under President George W. Bush, and from these roles he not only knows the inner workings of the agency, but understands that the work of the agency impacts the lives of all Americans.

If confirmed, in the spirit of Senators Alexander and Murray, we hope Azar will seek to find bipartisan agreement and focus on the imperative that patients, not politics, must come first to achieve a healthy and prosperous Nation.

“Advancements in science are beginning to provide unparalleled opportunities in healthcare,” said Jeff Allen, President & CEO of Friends of Cancer Research. “While challenges remain to rapidly bring new discoveries to patients, Azar knows first hand the role biomedical innovation plays in improving people’s lives.”

We look forward to working with him to ensure patients’ best interests remain the foundation of work being conducted by the agency.

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About Friends of Cancer Research
Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) drives collaboration among partners from every healthcare sector to power advances in science, policy and regulation that speed lifesaving treatments to patients. For more information, please visit www.focr.org.