Friends of Cancer Research

Friends of Cancer Research was founded in 1996 to mark the 25th Anniversary of the National Cancer Act.{{cite journal|last1=Srneltz|first1=Katie Jill|title=Major Cancer Groups Form "Friends of Cancer Research"|journal=Journal of the National Cancer Institute|date=1997|volume=89|issue=3|pages=192–194|doi=10.1093/jnci/89.3.192|pmid=9016998|doi-access=free}} Initially founded as a coalition of cancer research and advocacy organizations, Friends of Cancer Research held town hall meetings to educate the public about cancer research.{{cite web|title=Yale Cancer Center Answers|url=https://medicine.yale.edu/cancer/podcasts/Answers_Dec_30_07.pdf|website=Yale Cancer Center|publisher=WNPR Connecticut Public Radio|accessdate=1 May 2015}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Friends of Cancer Research develops public-private partnerships and advocates for policies intended to improve and expedite drug research, development, and regulation, and cancer treatment. Friends organizes conferences, forums, and working groups to educate and promote collaboration among federal health organizations, academic research centers, private companies, and patient advocacy groups.{{cite web|title=Friends of Cancer Research events and conferences archive|url=http://focr.org/events/archive|website=Friends of Cancer Research|accessdate=24 October 2014|archive-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009103135/http://www.focr.org/events/archive|url-status=dead}}

In 2011 and 2012, Friends of Cancer Research led the development of the FDA's Breakthrough Therapy designation, an expedited review pathway for drugs that show clinical evidence of superiority to existing treatments early in their development.{{cite news|last1=Clarke|first1=Toni|title=U.S. drugmakers cheer 'speed lane' for breakthrough therapies|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-fda-drug-therapies-idUSL1N0FU1XZ20130725|accessdate=29 October 2014|work=Reuters|agency=Reuters|date=Jul 25, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Guidance for Industry Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions – Drugs and Biologics|url=https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM358301.pdf|website=FDA.gov|publisher=US Food and Drug Administration|accessdate=29 October 2014}}

The pathway was signed into law on July 9, 2012, as part of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Beginning in 2012, Friends of Cancer Research organized a series of conference panels and workshops to develop a new clinical trial structure for targeted squamous cell lung cancer drugs.{{cite journal|last1=Mullard|first1=Asher|title=Multicompany trials adapt to disciplines beyond cancer|url=http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v20/n1/full/nm0114-3.html|journal=Nature Medicine|year=2014 |volume=20 |issue=1 |page=3 |publisher=Nature Publishing Group|doi=10.1038/nm0114-3 |pmid=24398947 |s2cid=6151931 |accessdate=28 April 2015|doi-access=free}} The resulting trial, Lung-MAP (Lung Cancer Master Protocol), is an "umbrella trial" that simultaneously tests several different experimental drugs targeting different genetic mutations. The trial is a collaboration among NIH, FDA, SWOG, Foundation Medicine, Friends of Cancer Research, and several pharmaceutical companies.{{cite web|title=About Lung-MAP|url=http://lung-map.org/about-lung-map|website=Lung-MAP|accessdate=29 April 2015}} Lung-MAP began enrolling patients on June 15, 2014.{{cite web|last1=Marchione|first1=Marilynn|title=New study aims to rapidly test lung cancer drugs|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/new-study-aims-rapidly-test-lung-cancer-drugs|website=Associated Press|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=29 April 2015|archive-date=29 April 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150429214611/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/new-study-aims-rapidly-test-lung-cancer-drugs|url-status=dead}}

By January, 2015, 71 drugs and biologics had been designated as Breakthrough Therapies and the program had facilitated 18 drug approvals.{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions: Breakthrough Therapies |url=https://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Legislation/FederalFoodDrugandCosmeticActFDCAct/SignificantAmendmentstotheFDCAct/FDASIA/ucm341027.htm |accessdate=28 April 2015 |website=Food and Drug Administration |publisher=FDA}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://friendsofcancerresearch.org/ Friends of Cancer Research]

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Category:Organizations established in 1996

Category:Cancer charities in the United States

Category:Charities based in Washington, D.C.

Category:Medical and health organizations based in Washington, D.C.

Category:1996 establishments in Washington, D.C.

Category:501(c)(3) organizations