Progress for Cancer Patients

This is always one of my favorite times of the year – and not just because we’re entering the summer months. I’m also excited because every year in June, everyone fighting cancer comes together to learn about the progress being made by scientists and researchers at two important meetings: the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Meeting. 

As I look forward to this special chance for our community to share key learnings and advancements, I find myself taking two different perspectives: the first as the sister and daughter of people who lost their battles with cancer and who might still be with us today if they had been “lucky” enough to be diagnosed just a few years earlier or lived long enough for a new treatment to reach them. The second perspective I bring with me is as a member of the community that drives innovative research, building on the science that has come before – where the pace of advancement is accelerating rapidly, but still often marked by years to go from lab to patients. 

My heart is with the patients, families and advocates who are looking for hope, as they listen for research that is applicable TODAY – not at some point in the distant future. I know all too well how weeks feel like years when you are in this situation, and I am proud to be part of one of those ‘today’ presentations at ASCO and EHA this year. When I first started working in cell therapy, there were only a few CAR T therapies available for people living with blood cancer, but now, just a few years later, there are many more options, which is great news for patients. And this is only the beginning as we at Kite specifically look ahead to sharing data in new areas like relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

In the field of oncology, I truly believe the best is ahead – there is so much more innovation for us to look forward to. From vaccine trials in late stages that could prevent cancer-causing viruses, to more accurate diagnoses with AI, to new technologies, like CRISPR, working to inhibit and decrease the spread of tumor volume, the strides the industry is making are truly incredible. In the CAR T space specifically, we’re looking to develop next generation CD19 treatments, including investing in allogeneic (off-the-shelf) therapy.

We’re constantly moving science forward to address new challenges, and a lot of the progress that will be discussed at ASCO and EHA this year will be despite challenges faced during the pandemic. Discussions will touch on how care-near-home models developed for cancer patients in response to the pandemic and the overall impact of COVID-19 on cancer care. With presentations like these, we as an industry will have a chance to reflect on key learnings and successes from the past year that we can build on to help make care more accessible in the future.

But innovation means nothing if patients and oncologists aren’t aware. For CAR T specifically, if you ask some doctors who may not be closely connected with oncology, they might think CAR T technology is still in the early days of development. It is important to note that we’re presenting five-year survival data from our own pivotal trial at Kite later this year. This complicated yet stunningly simple concept of engineering our own T cells to fight cancer has touched so many patients, yet it is still not widely known. We don’t want breakthroughs in oncology to be kept exclusively to people who attend scientific medical meetings – we all can benefit from keeping up with advances.

Last year, 10 million people lost their battle with cancer. When we think about the parents, grandparents, siblings and close friends behind this number, it’s easy to understand the broad impact cancer has on society. We have an obligation to continue advancing cancer therapies until we have developed cures. And it’s important to recognize that science is winning. Since 1991, the cancer death rate in America has dropped by a total of 31% and the global cancer mortality rate decreases approximately 1% every year, and that’s thanks to the incredible work of many who will spend their June presenting the latest advances at ASCO and EHA. I’m honored to stand with my industry peers and colleagues at Kite and Gilead to help do our part – both for TODAY, and the future.