Sponsorship to promote genetic biomarker testing in lung cancer announced
Boehringer Ingelheim (Ingelheim, Germany) has announced that it will sponsor the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (CA, USA) in its efforts to raise awareness of the importance of immediate biomarker testing for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Genetic biomarker testing at diagnosis allows a personalized treatment approach to be adopted.
While our understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer has improved, there has been little improvement in the 5-year survival rate in nearly 40 years. Kevin Lokay, Vice President and business unit head of Oncology at Boehringer Ingelheim, stressed the importance of the testing, stating, “It’s about a more detailed diagnosis as early as possible to help physicians more immediately match each patient with the most appropriate course of treatment.”
Of all cancers, lung cancer has the highest mortality rate in every ethnic group. Non-small-cell lung cancer is the most common form of lung cancer, and accounts for approximately 85% of all diagnoses. Bonnie J. Addario, founder of the Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and a stage 3B lung cancer survivor commented, “This testing sets the stage for a new personalized standard of care with the goal of improving outcomes for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.”
