August 1, 2020
Did you know that per the World Health Organization (WHO), lung cancer causes nearly 1 in 5 cancer deaths, claiming more lives annually than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined around the world? Tomorrow will mark the ninth consecutive year that World Lung Cancer Day is observed. Established by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies in 2012, this day was created to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of early screening and treatment.
Lung cancer was initially categorized as a rare disease, defined by Congress in the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the US. It then became widely perceived as a completely preventable condition after the significant correlation between smoking and lung cancer was discovered in medical and clinical research. Today, although breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in America, lung cancer has become “the biggest cancer killer in both men and women”, which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states is responsible for ~200,000 diagnoses and 150,000 deaths every year.
According to the CDC, smoking cigarettes remains the #1 cause of lung cancer, and is linked to 80-90% of all lung cancers. In addition to smoking, there are other factors have been linked to causing lung cancer, including: Radon gas exposure, secondhand smoke, air pollution, genetic mutation, and exposure to carcinogens (such as asbestos or diesel fuel). The American Cancer Society notes that maintaining healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables may also help reduce the risk of developing lung cancer for both smokers and non-smokers. Research on what causes lung cancer in non-tobacco users, and those with no prior known risks, continues to be one of the hottest topic areas in the industry.
Here at MedSource, we understand the vital importance of, and critical need for, cancer clinical research. Oncology, pulmonology, and rare disease are three primary areas that we specialize in, including small cell and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) studies. We value the relationships we make and are proud to work with the following, specifically joining forces in the fight against lung cancer:
- Numerous bio-pharmaceutical companies of all sizes, including 5 of the top pharma industry’s leaders/sponsor companies
- Clinical-stage companies focusing on targeted cancer therapies
- R&D medical companies (small molecule drugs) to treat cancers, including lungs.
- The largest comprehensive cancer center in the world
- Key Opinion Leaders and Investigators
Clinical research has come a long way, thanks to modern technology, scientific discoveries, medical breakthroughs, and passionate people. Although clinical trials often take some time to fully execute, we take pride in having the talent and expertise on our team necessary to make it happen and are excited to see what other kinds of differences we can make.
Sources: