Monday, June 29, 2009

Oral PARP Inhibitor Shows Anti-Tumor Results

In an early, Phase 1 trial at Royal Marsden Hospital in London and Netherlands Cancer Institute, an oral PARP inhibitor drug (part of a new generation of anti-cancer drugs being developed) showed anti-tumor activity against BRCA1 and BRCA2 related breast, prostate and ovarian cancers. It also showed acceptable side effects and low toxicity.

Read the article in NEJM - its a freebie! Link

Health Industry Spends $1.4 Million A Day On Lobbying

Yes, you read that correctly. The health industry (insurance, pharmaceutical, medical equipment, health care providers and all sorts of companies in the health industry) are now spending in excess of $1.4 million a day lobbying your elected representatives. Full report here

Sometimes members of our grassroots newtwork get a little discouraged when they meet with and call their members of Congress about issues important to eradicating breast cancer. I always explain to them that as soon as they've left the member's office or hung up the phone, their congressperson is being visited by lobbyists promoting policies that run counter to patients' needs.

You just have to keep going back and calling again and again to remind legislators to do what's right for the people they serve.