GSK-Merck back new developing world cancer charity
pharmafile | September 14, 2011 | News story | Medical Communications | Cancer, GSK, Merck & Co, Pink Ribbon-Red Ribbon, breast cancer, cervical cancer
GlaxoSmithKline and Merck are among the backers of a new charity that focuses on preventing female cancers in developing countries.
The Pink Ribbon-Red Ribbon public/private partnership is jointly-led by the George W. Bush Institute, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS.
The partnership aims to increase the availability of prevention, screening and treatment programmes for cervical and breast cancer in developing countries.
GlaxoSmithKline has said it will contribute $1 million worth of its cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix to the scheme, plus $50,000 to support operations on the ground.
Merck, a founding corporate partner of the initiative, has pledged $3 million over three years to help address both cervical and breast cancer in sub-Saharan African nations by supporting disease education, screening and treatment efforts.
Merck’s commitment comes on top of its pledge to provide 3.6 million doses of its genital warts and cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, at no cost, to the national cervical cancer vaccination programme in Tanzania.
Eric Bing, director of global health at the George W. Bush Institute, said: “Our goal is to reduce deaths from cervical cancer by an estimated 25% among women vaccinated, screened and treated through the initiative, significantly increase access to cervical cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment and breast cancer awareness programmes, and create innovative models that can be scaled up and used globally.
“Our founding corporate partners’ generosity and commitment to saving lives is a critical part of ensuring we meet these goals,” he added.
Former US president George W. Bush said: “It’s time to take the next step in building on the progress that has been made over the past decade in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
“Many women who seek AIDS services also face the challenge of cancer. It’s not enough to save a woman from AIDS, if she is then left to die of another very preventable disease.”
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in women, with a significant proportion of these coming from developing countries.
It is estimated that by 2020, women living in the developing world will account for 90% of cervical cancer deaths worldwide.
Ben Adams
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