immunotherapy , Ralph and Fernanda helped to create and invest in a partnership between the La Jolla Institute for Immunology and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center , creating a roadmap from the lab bench to the patient bedside for the most promising immunology research to reach and benefit cancer patients in clinical trials . The hope of these trials is to ultimately be approved for widespread access to cancer patients , and prove critical insights to the field of cancer immunotherapy along the way . And though the road to even the first phase of clinical trials is incredibly challenging – especially with something as locally unprecedented as personalized cellular immunotherapy – IF ’ s resolve to reach its goal has never wavered .
With this critical milestone met , IF ’ s leadership is actively charting the course to helping more ‘ first patients ’. “ We are acutely aware that the majority of early research does not make it to patients – just over 3 % of oncology treatments are likely to receive approval . And the cost of reaching approval continues to climb - the average median cost to bring a new drug to market is $ 985 million ,” Christina Jordan , IF ’ s executive director shared with GB Magazine . “ IF has played a critical role in funding the basic science and investing in the infrastructure needed to run sophisticated clinical trials locally . Our goal is to continue these philanthropic investments , so promising early therapies can reach more ‘ Patient Ones ’.”
As IF looks to the future , Fernanda is mindful of the past support that brought IF to this point . “ Many of our donors have been with us since we began this long and incredible journey to the treatment of patient one , and we have been blessed by the support of new friends and donors along the way . None of our progress against cancer would have been possible without their support and belief in us – our donors mean the world to me , and remind me what amazing things are possible through the power of philanthropy .”
To join in IF ’ s mission , please visit www . joinif . org .
Fernanda and Ava Whitworth at one of IF ’ s Fundraisers
Sources for data points : Trial approval : https :// academic . oup . com / biostatistics / article / 20 / 2 / 273 / 4817524
Cost to market : https :// www . biospace . com / article / median-cost-of-bringing-a-new-drug-to-market-985-million /
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