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White Paper on New Models for Accelerated Drug Discovery and Development Is Released

White Paper on New Models for Accelerated Drug Discovery and Development Is Released

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (December 1, 2010) – Five leaders in the medical innovation field released a white paper today titled The New Role of Academia in Drug Discovery and Development: New Thinking, New Competencies, New Results. This white paper reflects key recommendations from a July 2010 town hall meeting in Kansas City hosted by Friends of Cancer Research, Kansas Bioscience Authority, The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Council for American Medical Innovation.

The white paper outlines how government, nonprofit organizations and academic institutions can define new models of working with the private sector to enhance drug development efforts and bring safer, more effective drugs to the market more efficiently. Recommendations for this new model are based on a series of expert panel discussions held during the town hall meeting.

“This call to action is the result of an extraordinary meeting of key policy makers, academics, industry leaders and the non-profit community, who understand the urgency for new collaborations in cancer research and drug development,” said Roy A. Jensen, M.D., director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. “As universities increasingly seek to commercialize their research, we need a new paradigm for drug discovery. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is proud to partner with these organizations to lead the way.”

“Together, we can knock down barriers to scientific innovation, and, as we do that, we will accelerate our progress in the fight against diseases such as cancer,” said Tom Thornton, president and CEO of the Kansas Bioscience Authority.

“We hope our nation’s healthcare leaders and policymakers will study the insights and adopt the recommendations in this report. We can make groundbreaking progress in how scientific 2

discoveries translate to patient healthcare if they do,” said Lesa Mitchell, vice president of advancing innovations at the Kauffman Foundation.

“This white paper outlines critical steps toward much-needed increased interagency collaboration,” said Dr. Ellen Sigal, Chair, Friends of Cancer Research. “The proposals discussed within this document aim to accelerate the process to help get scientific breakthroughs to patients. The message is clear; without collaboration among all agencies and academic centers, the full potential of biomedical research may be stifled.”

“The Council for American Medical Innovation is pleased to have supported this ground breaking event examining the new role of academia in drug development,” said Debra Lappin, President of the Council for American Medical Innovation. “The white paper reflects a rare dialogue among leaders across sectors and paves the way forward for the next generation of research, discovery and medical advances.”

The town hall report can be found at www.kauffman.org/newthinking.

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About Friends of Cancer Research

Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is a cancer research think tank based in the Washington, D.C. area. Working with the entire cancer research and advocacy community, Friends pioneers innovative public-private partnerships, organizes critical policy forums, educates the public, and brings together key stakeholders to overcome the barriers standing between patients and the most promising cancer treatments.

About The University of Kansas Cancer Center

At The University of Kansas Cancer Center, we are more than an academic cancer center; we are a unique community-based cancer research and care partnership focused on one mission: eliminating the burden of cancer. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is transforming cancer research and clinical care by linking our innovative approach to drug discovery, delivery and development to our nationally accredited patient care program.

About the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. About the Kansas Bioscience Authority 3

The KBA is a $581 million initiative that is advancing Kansas’ national bioscience leadership by building world-class research capacity; fostering the formation and growth of bioscience startups; supporting expansion of the state’s bioscience clusters; and facilitating industrial expansion and attraction.

About the Council for American Medical Innovation

The United States faces serious challenges to maintaining its leadership position in innovation. The Council for American Medical Innovation is bringing together leaders in research, medicine, public health, academia, education, labor, investment and business, who are working in partnership toward a national policy agenda aimed at preserving U.S. leadership in medical innovation. American medical innovators create millions of high-paying jobs, and their discoveries are integral in the fight to cure cancer and other illnesses. The Council for American Medical Innovation views leadership in medical innovation as a key part of America’s economic recovery, future prosperity and health.