National Comprehensive Cancer Network

About NCCN

Pharmacia Gives $3.15 Million Grant to NCCN to Advance Innovative Cancer Research Collaboration

-- NCCN to study clinical applications of therapies in treatment of breast, gynecological, and other forms of cancer --

[PEAPACK, NJ] – Pharmacia Corporation today announced it has provided a $3.15 million grant to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for the development and review of clinical oncology research protocols and trials in breast, gynecological and other forms of cancer. The grant will provide funding for clinical research to identify treatment advances that improve patient survival and, ultimately, quality of life.

“We are pleased to partner with NCCN to advance rigorous studies of our key therapies to evaluate and determine their full therapeutic value for patients,” said Gabe Leung, group vice president of Global Oncology Franchise, Pharmacia. “Progress in cancer treatment can be accomplished only through innovative research and clinical trials. Pharmacia’s collaboration with NCCN will facilitate such exploration.”

“NCCN’s mission is to provide state-of-the-art cancer care through the study and evaluation of promising new treatments, and through programs that continuously explore the application of current and novel therapies across numerous cancer types. The grant from Pharmacia offers us a tremendous opportunity to meet both these objectives,” said Bill McGivney, NCCN’s chief executive officer. “Our collaboration will provide a forum for the open exchange of information to better define the clinical application for the use of two medications in a variety of cancer types.”

NCCN will conduct the studies through the NCCN Clinical Trials Network (CTN). CTN was created to facilitate clinical research through the streamlining and centralization of site identification and initiation processes. A particular focus of NCCN’s CTN is the establishment of collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®), a not-for-profit alliance of 23 of the world's leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives. For more information, visit NCCN.org.

The NCCN Member Institutions are:

• City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center
  Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
• Duke Cancer Institute
• Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center / Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
• The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
• Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
• Moffitt Cancer Center
• The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute
• Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• Stanford Cancer Institute
• University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
• UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
• UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
• University of Colorado Cancer Center
• University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
• UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center
• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center