October 2003 NEWSLETTER

November 03, 2003

Friends of Cancer Research is a non-profit organization that raises awareness and provides public education on cancer research in order to accelerate the nation's progress toward prevention and treatment of cancer.

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE

NIH Appropriations
The FY 2004 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 2660), which contains funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), remains tied up in conference committee. Conferees must reconcile the differences between the 3.7% increase in NIH funding recommended by the Senate and the 2.5% increase approved by the House and supported by the administration. Cancer advocacy groups are lobbying for the larger increase following an unsuccessful attempt to win sufficient support in the Senate for an amendment that would have increased the NIH budget by 9.2% ($2.5 billion). Conferees reportedly are struggling with a Bush Administration proposal to modify overtime pay rules. Democrats want the implementation of this provision delayed while the administration is threatening a veto if the final bill does not include the modifications.

Meanwhile, the battle over FY 2005 appropriations is already underway. Research America is circulating a letter throughout the medical community that asks the President to include in next year's budget request an 8 to 10% increase in NIH funding. Nearly 600 health organizations have already signed the letter, which will be delivered early next month.

Cancer and Medicare Reform
A Medicare Conference Committee is currently working to reconcile differences in the prescription drug bills passed by the House and Senate. According to the Oncology Nursing Society, provisions contained in both bills "cut cancer care by more than $16 billion over ten years without providing appropriate and much-needed adjustments for the administration of chemotherapy and provision of associated supportive care." The Senate Cancer Coalition held hearings earlier this month to focus on the impact of these cuts. According to testimony from former Senator Connie Mack, "If the cuts being proposed are enacted into law, then some oncology practices will be forced to limit the number of new Medicare patients they accept each year. Others will be forced to close satellite offices, leaving cancer patients in rural communities with long drives both to and from chemotherapy treatment."

On the issue of AWP reform, the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) recently sent out an action alert addressing rumors of an agreement among Medicare Conference Committee staff "that included payment for chemotherapy drugs at 85% of AWP in 2004, 104% of ASP in 2005 and beyond." Committee staffers would neither confirm nor deny the rumors about an AWP agreement at an October 22 meeting with cancer community representatives, but they did acknowledge that several proposals still were being considered.

FRIENDS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Scientific Symposium on Cancer
Friends of Cancer Research and the Division of United States Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars are collaborating on a unique interactive health policy forum, “Confronting Cancer Today.” An ensemble of the foremost cancer experts from scientific and academic centers, FDA, and industry will gather in Washington D.C. on November 12th to present cutting-edge innovations in cancer science and discuss the processes of translating research to diagnostics, prevention, and treatment. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and other members of Congress will also speak at the event, which will be held from 8:30am to 12:15pm in the Wilson Centers 6th floor auditorium (Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW).

The forum will feature keynote speeches from Dr. Andrew Von Eschenbach, Director of the National Cancer Institute, and Dr. Mark McClellan, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Each speech will be followed by an hour-long interactive panel including audience questions moderated by Dr. Charles M. Balch, VP and CEO, American Society of Clinical Oncologists.

The first panel, "The Frontier of Cancer Research: Promises and Challenges," will focus on the new and emerging science and highlight current barriers to translating these advances from the laboratory to the bedside. Panelists include Dr. Nancy Davidson, Professor of Oncology and Breast Cancer Research and Chair in Oncology at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Mel Sorenson, Vice President of Clinical Development & Global Affairs at GlaxoSmithKline, and The Honorable Ralph M. Burnett, prostate cancer survivor and an Associate Judge for the District Court of Maryland.

The second panel, "FDA and the Drug Development Process," will focus on issues surrounding cancer drug approval within the FDA with a particular emphasis on the future of cancer research science. Panelists include Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellman, Chief Medical Officer & Executive VP of Development and Product Operation at Genentech, Inc. Dr. Herbert Kim Lyerly, Director of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Gerard Kennealey, VP Clinical Research in Oncology at AstraZeneca LP, and Charlene Gaddy Wallace, a breast cancer survivor and student at Trinity College.

Seating is limited. If you wish to attend the symposium, please send an email to development@wwic.si.edu or leave a message at 202.691.4253.

For directions, please click here.