June 2010 Archives

While 1.5 million new cancer cases are expected in 2010, clinical trial participation for new cancer treatments remains low--about 3 percent of cancer patients.  There are a variety of reasons for low enrollment--one of them may be not being able to find the right information about a study. 

A number of sites like www.clinicaltrials.gov have immense databases with clinical trial enrollment info.  With all that data, finding a trial should be as easy as using one of those restaurant guides I have on my iPod Touch.  That capability hasn't been available.  Until recently.

At ASCO, MedTrust Online, with support from GSK Oncology, launched a service called, appropriately enough, Cancer Trials App that sorts through information on all U.S. trials for the 12 most common cancers, not just GSK's studies.   It's free and you can get it from iTunes. Once the right trial is found, a doctor can tell the patient where the closest location to enroll is.  So think about the time saved when a cancer patient asks what clinical trial options are available left if all that information is easily accessible through a phone.

I'm not looking for a trial, but I may run into someone who is.  That's why I think everyone who uses iTunes should have this app. 

This week we were pleased to learn that GSK had ranked highest in the Access to Medicines Index for 2010.  It's an honor to be acknowledged for our focus on generating, and delivering, new initiatives to improve lives around the world. 

We are proud of our initiatives to improve affordability and to conduct and encourage more investment in R&D for diseases of the developing world. Yet we know that, despite significant progress over the last decade, there is more work to be done.

Read about what GSK is doing to improve innovation and access to medicines for the developing world and emerging markets and watch a clip of Andrew Witty's interview today on "Power Lunch" at CNBC.com. 

My sales region, the Desert Mountain Region, recently went on the most uplifting and motivating volunteer event--what we at GSK call "Orange Day."  The Desert Mountain region consists of more than 150 employees across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.  Here in the west and southwest part of the US, there is a heavy presence of military bases and veterans, and we wanted to be able to show our appreciation for what those serving in the military do each and every day to preserve freedom in the US and around the world.

We worked with an organization called Blue Star Mothers.  Their members are mothers whose sons or daughters have served or are currently serving overseas in the military.  One of the more visible actions this organization conducts is helping to provide "Care Packages" for military personnel.  These care packages are filled with many small conveniences, such as socks, lip balm, magazines, soap, deodorant, movies, tooth brushes and tooth paste, and small stuffed animals that soldiers give to children in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Each district worked as a team to pack these care packages and through a series of teambuilding activities, the region completed 27 care packages to be shipped to both Iraq and Afghanistan. 

In addition to a representative from Blue Star Mothers, there was also a representative from the local army base in Denver who graciously accepted the packages on behalf of the Army and addressed the group, explaining what gifts like these mean to soldiers overseas in active combat.

Our region devoted a few hours at our regional meeting to give back to those who serve our country to let them know that they are much appreciated for the hard work that they do each and every day around the world.  Each package also contained several letters of gratitude and thanks written by our representatives.

The event was one of the more motivating group activities conducted in our region.  We all felt a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment upon completing these care packages and can't wait to  do it again soon.

My late uncle, who I thought was utterly invincible.  My cousin, a nurse who has trouble speaking due to radiation treatments for her throat, and can now only work part time.  My robust, 32-year old neighbor who lived four doors down, and who very, very suddenly left his young wife a widow.  And many millions more. 

All have had their lives cut short way too soon, or their health essentially ruined by smoking. And I know others too.

Addiction, disease, and sometimes death.  Given the serious and obvious health risks - and also perhaps because of how many people I know who have been affected -- I'm amazed that so many people still smoke.

As someone who was drawn to the pharmaceutical industry because of a desire to help people live healthier lives, I know how important it is to educate and encourage them to take specific, positive steps.  GSK has a number of products, educational patient programs, and websites--such as www.Way2Quit.com--to help tobacco users kick the habit. But what else can we do to stop the damage that tobacco does in our communities?  And what can you do to help?   

The World Health Organization hosts World No Tobacco Day annually on May 31^st.  The goal is to draw attention to the harmful effects of tobacco, and many organizations across the globe will be helping to spread the message.  That's great.  But let's also keep in mind that one of the best ways to help someone stop smoking is to be courageous enough to talk to them one-on-one. 

Take up the call, and commit to asking a loved one who uses tobacco to decide it's time to kick the habit.  They may not listen, and your efforts may have absolutely no major impact on their life whatsoever.    

But then again, just think about it...what if they do listen, and decide to quit?  Are you willing to take a chance?

Medical meetings are places of learning, of course.  But they're also about connecting--bringing together doctors, nurses, patients, and industry to solve an issue that is much bigger than any of them.  At the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, that is obviously cancer. 

This year's meeting will have important data (including ours) that we hope moves forward our understanding of treating cancer.  But what might go unseen is how people in this community work to help patients and families with everyday challenges and using ASCO as a place to bring about worthy change.

In that spirit, at this year's ASCO, GSK will be using Twitter to share meeting observations with meeting attendees and others who follow GSK on Twitter, including members of the medical and patient communities.

This year's ASCO meeting, taking place June 4-8, features a theme of "Advancing Quality Through Innovation," including advances in science and in technology. In fact, ASCO is adding a session this year that implements social media and other interactive technology tools. To me, this resonates with where we at GSK are as a company and where we strive to be in our research. Each day, we take important steps to demonstrate our dedication to producing innovations in the oncology space - innovations we hope will make profound differences in the lives of patients and transform the way treatments are discovered and developed.

To stay up-to-date on GSK's activities at ASCO, be sure to follow @GSKUS on Twitter.