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SEPTEMBER 2006 Welcome to the September 2006 Edition of the Friends of Cancer Research monthly newsletter. As Friends celebrates its 10th Anniversary, we are working to improve the delivery, content, and style of our news updates to you. Please email us with any comments or suggestions at info@focr.org.
House Committee to Vote on NIH Reauthorization Bill This Week House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) is bringing an updated version of a bill to reauthorize the National Institutes of Health (NIH) before his Committee for a vote. The Committee is holding a hearing on NIH Reauthorization on Tuesday, September 19, and marking up the bill on Wednesday, September 20. Chairman Barton made reauthorizing NIH one of his priorities after taking over as chairman of the committee in 2004. In the summer of 2005, the Chairman circulated several drafts of a reauthorization bill to the medical research community. In the intervening months, his staff has been working with stakeholder groups to reach a compromise on a bill that reforms NIH but is still acceptable to the research community. Congress last reauthorized NIH in 1993. Overall, the draft bill focuses on the organization and function of the Office of the Director of NIH and its relationship to the individual NIH institutes and centers by providing enhanced authorities for strategic planning and support of trans-institute initiatives. The bill would standardize a detailed series of reporting requirements covering research and other activities supported by NIH to promote greater accountability and increased transparency of NIH funds. To read more on the major provisions the bill includes, please see our special report. If you have questions, or need more information, please contact FOCR Director of Government Affairs Jeff Coughlin at (202) 944-6643 or jcoughlin@focr.org.
Friends of Cancer Research Kicks-off 10th Anniversary Celebrations
Above left: Friends President Marlene Malek, Friends Board Member and Former CEO of Paramount Pictures, Sherry Lansing, and Friends Chair and Founder, Ellen Sigal. Top Right: Sherry Lansing accepting her award. Lower Right: November 15th Benefit Honoree, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, shares closing remarks. Last week, Friends of Cancer Research honored Board Member and Former CEO of Paramount Pictures, Sherry Lansing, with its 10th Anniversary Award. Friends Chair and Founder, Ellen Sigal, commented, “I could not think of anyone more fitting to honor with our 10th Anniversary Award than a leader in the fight against cancer and a dear friend who has been an integral and active part of Friends since its very beginning ten years ago.” Attended by top government officials, private philanthropists and supporters of the Nov 15 Benefit, patient advocates, leaders of cancer associations, and representatives from the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, the event served as a kick-off for Friends’ 10th Anniversary celebrations. Friends' first event was held in the fall of 1996. Other 10th Anniversary events include a special shopping weekend at the Tyson’s Corner Saks Fifth Avenue featuring a panel luncheon on women's cancers and the November Benefit at the Four Seasons. For more information on these events, please email agarber@focr.org with subject "10th Anniversary." a
Confirmation Hold on FDA Commissioner Lifted By Senators Clinton and Murray but may be Imposed By Two More in Senate After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday, August 24, that it approved Plan B for over-the-counter (OTC) sale for women aged 18 and older, the hold on the FDA Commissioner nomination was lifted by Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA). The Senators had blocked Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach’s nomination as FDA Commissioner until the agency made a decision on Plan B. However, in the past weeks, reports indicate that two more senators may have holds on his confirmation: Senator David Vitter (R-LA) is interested in drug reimportation issues and may have a hold on Dr. von Eschenbach’s confirmation until his concerns are resolved; Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) may be planning to block the confirmation until RU-486 is removed from the market. Even if Senators Vitter and DeMint have placed holds on the nomination, the latest information available from the Senate is that the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will still hold its vote on Dr. von Eschenbach’s nomination on Wednesday, September 20.
Friends Chair and President Urge Confirmation of FDA Commissioner in Washington Post Letter to the Editor On Sunday, August 13, The Washington Post published a letter to the editor from Friends of Cancer Research Chair Ellen Sigal and President Marlene Malek about the need to put politics aside and patients first by confirming Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner. The letter was in response to an August 3rd Post editorial that focused on FDA's approval of Plan B emergency contraception medication for over-the-counter status. The Post editorial is available on the Friends website and the letter to the editor is included below:
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As announced in last month's newsletter, Friends is the
charity beneficiary of the 2006 Saks Fifth Avenue Key to the Cure initiative
at the Saks Tysons Galleria location. The event consists of a shopping
weekend with a special launch party and invitation only trunk shows Oct.
12-15th, when a percentage of sales will benefit Friends’ efforts to raise
awareness and provide public education on the importance of cancer research.