SEATTLE, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The state's Life Sciences Discovery
fund has awarded $2.2 million to establish a formal phase 1 clinical-trials
program to test new therapies for solid tumors at Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center. Announced this evening, the grant is among the first
funded by Washington's $350 million tobacco-lawsuit-settlement bonus.
Developing novel therapies targeted to treat solid tumors, in
collaboration with local biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, is the
goal of the Hutchinson Center/University of Washington Cancer Consortium.
Phase 1 trials are by definition the first testing of cancer therapies in
humans. The purpose is to determine whether and how a drug works.
Traditionally, phase 1 studies have been primarily concerned with drug
safety. However, with the increased knowledge of the molecular pathways
involved in cancer development, an ever-increasing proportion of drugs
initially tested in humans prove to be effective, even in the first
patients treated.
"Phase 1 trials are critically important, require a high level of
unique competencies and, if done correctly, can substantially speed the
development of new therapies," said Martin (Mac) Cheever, M.D., director of
solid-tumor research at the Hutchinson Center. "This is an outcome that can
benefit the state's patients, industry and health care enterprises."
Initially, the program will use the funding to develop a highly
efficient infrastructure for implementing early phase -- primarily industry
sponsored -- cancer clinical trials, and to provide exploratory funds that
will allow Consortium researchers to apply their expertise in cancer
imaging and biomarkers to cancer drug development.
The program will be led by John Thompson, M.D., as director of the
Consortium phase 1 program. Thompson will be responsible for scientific
direction and facilitating new industry and other trial sponsorships.
"Standard therapy for cancer is clearly inadequate," Cheever said. "The
best hope is the development of new targeted therapies. Thanks to
ever-advancing technologies and expanding basic knowledge of cancer biology
-- areas of exceptional strength in the consortium -- the opportunities for
developing new therapies targeted to cancer cells have never been greater."
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams
of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent,
diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers,
including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for
health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world. For more
information, please visit fhcrc.org.
About the Life Sciences Discovery Fund
The Life Sciences Discovery Fund, a Washington State agency established
in May 2005, makes grant investments in innovative life sciences research
to benefit Washington and its citizens. For more information on the Life
Sciences Discovery Fund, visit: http://www.lsdfa.org.
CONTACT
Dean Forbes
206-605-0311
dforbes@fhcrc.org
SOURCE Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
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Related links:
http://www.fhcrc.org
http://www.lsdfa.org
CONTACT:
Dean Forbes of Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center, +1-206-605-0311, dforbes@fhcrc.org
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