Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced donations totaling $1 million in 2013 to four nonprofit organizations that support patients with cancer. The donations will fund the development and availability of educational materials for patients and caregivers about the emerging field of cancer research and treatment called immuno-oncology. Bonnie Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community, LUNGevity, and Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer each received a $250,000 charitable contribution to advance their independent educational initiatives.
"Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to leading advances in immuno-oncology, from early discovery and clinical development to providing education and access to care for patients," said Joseph Leveque, MD, vice president, Oncology, U.S. Medical, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "We are proud to support these organizations in their efforts to help educate patients and caregivers about this rapidly evolving area of cancer research and treatment."
Surgery, radiation, cytotoxic or targeted therapies have represented the mainstay of cancer treatment over the last several decades, but long-term survival and a positive quality of life have remained elusive for many patients with advanced disease. To address this unmet medical need, Bristol-Myers Squibb is leading advances in immuno-oncology.
Immuno-oncology is based on the premise that the immune system is the body's most powerful and effective tool for recognizing and fighting disease. Unlike traditional therapies that target the tumor, immuno-oncology agents are designed to harness the natural capabilities of the patient's immune system to fight cancer by targeting the very same pathways that tumor cells use to evade recognition and distribution. The goal of immuno-oncology is to change survival expectations and the way that patients live with cancer.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.