Skip to content

Category: Press Releases

Friends of Cancer Research Launches Next Step in Real-World Evidence Initiative

Pilot Project Will Provide Novel Analysis in Partnership With 10 Leading Healthcare Research Organizations Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is launching the next phase of our Real-World Evidence (RWE) pilot project after a broad stakeholder meeting in February 2019. At the meeting, FDA and various data partners expressed interest in continuing to address several challenges…

Fred Malek's Quiet Public Service Left an Indelible Legacy of Good

The news of Fred Malek’s passing this past week left many in Washington, and across the country, to reflect – not only on the life of a giant of politics – but on what it means to be a philanthropist and public servant. We live in a time where philanthropy and service are extended with…

Acting FDA Commissioner Announced: HHS Secretary Appoints Dr. Norman E. Sharpless

Friends of Cancer Research Applauds This Appointment The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex M. Azar III has appointed Dr. Norman E. Sharpless to be the acting Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He will be replacing the current FDA Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who announced his resignation on March…

Friends of Cancer Research Celebrates the Life of Congressman John Dingell

Washington DC – Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) joins the nation in mourning the loss of former Democratic Representative John Dingell of Michigan. “For decades, the country counted on the veracity and leadership of John during some of our country’s most pivotal moments,” said Ellen Sigal, Chair, and Marlene Malek, Vice Chair, of Friends. “While…

Lung-MAP Precision Medicine Trial Expands To Include More Patients

Washington, DC – The Lung Cancer Master Protocol (Lung-MAP), the first precision medicine trial in lung cancer supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is undergoing a major expansion to include patients with all non-small cell lung cancers – which make up about 85 percent of all lung…

Friends of Cancer Research Announces New Members to Board of Directors

Friends Welcomes Margaret Anderson, Edward J. Benz Jr, and Elizabeth Thompson January 17, 2019 – Washington, DC – Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is pleased to announce the additions of Margaret Anderson, Dr. Edward J. Benz Jr., and Elizabeth Thompson to its Board of Directors.  The new members bring a wealth of experience and expertise…

FDA Announces Dr. Amy Abernethy as Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs

Friends of Cancer Research Applauds this Appointment and Thanks Dr. Rachel Sherman for Her Incredible Service December 17, 2018 – Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Dr. Amy Abernethy will replace Dr. Rachel Sherman as Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) applauds…

Friends of Cancer Research and ASCO Applaud NCI's Expansion of Clinical Trial Eligibility Criteria

WASHINGTON, DC – The American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO) and Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) applaud the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) recent revision of its clinical trial protocol template to broaden eligibility criteria for cancer clinical trials. The protocol template was expanded to help increase the opportunity for participation in NCI-funded clinical trials…

Friends of Cancer Research Releases Results of TMB Harmonization Project – Phase I

Results to be Presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s (SITC) 33rd Annual Meeting November 6, 2018 – Washington, DC – Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is pleased to announce that the results of Phase I of the tumor mutational burden (TMB) Harmonization Project will be presented as a late-breaking abstract at the Society…

Making Objective Drug Evidence Revisions for New Labeling Act Introduced to Senate

Senators Hatch and Bennet Introduce Bipartisan Solution to Important Public Health Issue September 28, 2018 – Washington, DC – Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) applauds Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) for responding to a recently identified public health issue and swiftly proposing a solution to an issue impacting patients and their physicians…