Groundbreaking approach to clinical trials should improve access to promising drugs for lung cancer patients.

Chicago, IL (December 15, 2014)—

The American Lung Association announced today that it has signed an agreement with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) to help support the Lung-MAP project, a groundbreaking clinical trial in squamous cell lung cancer that brings together the National Cancer Institute, SWOG Cancer Research, the FNIH, Friends of Cancer Research, pharmaceutical companies and eight advocacy partners.

 Lung-MAP represents an innovative approach to identification of biomarkers (an important tool in lung cancer treatment) and development of additional targeted therapies. The study is a multi-drug, multi-sub-study, biomarker-driven squamous cell lung cancer clinical trial that uses state-of-the-art genomic profiling to match patients to sub-studies testing investigational treatments that may target the genomic alterations, or mutations, found to be driving the growth of their cancer. This groundbreaking approach to clinical trials should improve access to promising drugs for patients and ease the significant recruitment challenges involved in traditional lung cancer biomarker trials. This unique trial infrastructure is capable of testing as many as five to seven additional drugs over the next five years.

“The American Lung Association’s support of this project has been made possible through our new LUNG FORCE initiative and our commitment to invest more resources towards lung cancer research,” said Harold P. Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association.  “This is an important step in enhancing our research portfolio aimed at lung cancer, which is the leading cancer killer of both men and women in the U.S.”

In support of this project, the Lung Association will raise awareness of Lung-MAP among its constituents through its communications channels, including the LUNG FORCE website, to help recruit patients and educate patients on the importance of clinical trials.  The Lung Association will also lend its support to the creation of an investigator training video and a patient recruitment video and support meetings of Lung-MAP scientific and organizational leadership. 

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About the American Lung Association Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lung.org.