The rapid pace of scientific advances has helped usher in a new era of medicine for cancer patients over the last decade. This morning, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) took a significant step in advancing this new era by partnering with PhRMA and nine of its member companies to create the Partnership for Accelerating Cancer Therapies (PACT), a five-year research collaboration totaling $215 million as part of the Cancer Moonshot initiative. This public-private partnership will be managed by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.
Research into the role of the body’s immune system in fighting cancer has yielded some of the most exciting scientific advances, resulting in a new wave of immunotherapies that specifically target cancers. As PhRMA reported in June, there are currently more than 240 immuno-oncology medicines and vaccines in development to help treat cancer.
PACT’s initial focus will be to identify, develop and validate robust biomarkers – a measure of a biological function – to better understand how immuno-oncology therapies work and predict patients’ responses to this treatment.
PACT represents a signficant step in demonstrating the importance of ongoing collaboration between biopharmaceutical companies and public health institutions to facilitate better research and new treatments for patients. The partnership is part of a change in biopharmaceutical research, as stakeholders across the R&D ecosystem are increasingly coming together to tackle sciences’ most vexing health challenges.
PhRMA is proud to support PACT and is hopeful that bringing together scientists and researchers from the public and private sectors will provide solutions to some of the most difficult problems in the fight against cancer.
Andrew Powaleny
Andrew Powaleny is the Deputy Vice President of Public Affairs at PhRMA, where he leads communications on scientific, regulatory and intellectual property issues, highlighting the biopharmaceutical industry’s efforts in developing innovative medicines and vaccines while promoting an environment that encourages necessary risk-taking. For five years starting in 2019, he launched and led PhRMA’s grassroots initiative, Voters for Cures, bringing patients and caregivers together to advocate for access to medicine and biopharmaceutical innovation. He also co-founded and co-chaired PRIDE Umbrella, a resource group for LGBTQ+ individuals. Prior to joining PhRMA in 2015, Andrew worked as a communications consultant in Washington, D.C., and as Deputy Press Secretary for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce under Chairman Fred Upton. He holds a degree in public policy and government from Eastern Connecticut State University, with a minor in music. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys exercise, musical theater and mentoring college students through The Fund for American Studies alumni association.
Andrew Powaleny
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"PhRMA, member companies and NIH create public-private partnership for immuno-oncology"
Cancer
Research and Development
PhRMA, member companies and NIH create public-private partnership for immuno-oncology
"PhRMA, member companies and NIH create public-private partnership for immuno-oncology"