Breaking Barriers in Cancer Care: The American Cancer Society and Pfizer Announce a $15 Million, Three-Year Initiative to Bridge the Gap in Cancer Care Disparities

Rhea-AI Summary

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) have launched the 'Change the Odds: Uniting to Improve Cancer Outcomes' initiative, aiming to bridge the gap in cancer care disparities in medically underrepresented communities across the United States. Pfizer has committed $15 million in funding to enhance awareness of and access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities, and patient support in these communities, with a focus on breast and prostate cancer. The initiative also aims to address barriers to accessing cancer screening and quality care in rural areas, with plans to engage additional partners to extend the program's reach.

Insights

Oncology Doctor

From a medical perspective, the 'Change the Odds' initiative is a significant step towards addressing the disparities in cancer care. Breast and prostate cancer, being highly prevalent, require extensive screening and early detection for better prognosis. The funding from Pfizer increases the potential for these communities to access screenings and clinical trials, which are crucial for advancing treatment options and improving survival rates. By focusing on medically underserved areas, this initiative is likely to reduce the mortality rates associated with late-stage diagnosis, which is more common in these populations.

Moreover, the comprehensive patient support and navigation services can alleviate feelings of social isolation, which have been linked to poorer outcomes. This holistic approach not only targets the disease but also improves the overall quality of life for patients, fostering a supportive environment for recovery and long-term survivorship.

Medical Research Analyst

Examining the initiative from a research standpoint, the investment in clinical trial opportunities is particularly noteworthy. Historically, medically underrepresented communities have been less likely to participate in clinical trials, leading to gaps in data that could inform treatment effectiveness across diverse populations. By enhancing trial access, this initiative can contribute to more inclusive research, potentially leading to the development of treatments that are effective across a broader demographic spectrum.

Furthermore, the initiative’s potential expansion to other cancer types indicates a scalable model that could be replicated across different disease areas. This could have a ripple effect, improving outcomes beyond breast and prostate cancer and setting a precedent for similar future investments in healthcare equity.

Health Economist

Analyzing the economic implications, 'Change the Odds' represents a strategic investment that could lead to long-term cost savings for the healthcare system. By increasing access to preventive services like cancer screenings, the initiative has the potential to reduce the economic burden of cancer through early detection and treatment, which is typically less expensive and more effective than treating advanced stages of the disease.

Additionally, by potentially reducing the disparities in cancer outcomes, the initiative can contribute to a more productive workforce and lower indirect costs associated with cancer, such as lost income and caregiver expenses. The engagement of additional partners could further amplify these economic benefits, creating a model for public-private partnerships in addressing healthcare disparities.

The initiative, “Change the Odds: Uniting to Improve Cancer Outcomes” aims to enhance awareness of and access to cancer screening, clinical trials and support in medically underrepresented communities across the United States

ATLANTA & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and Pfizer Inc. (NYE: PFE) today announced the launch of “Change the Odds™: Uniting to Improve Cancer Outcomes,” a three-year initiative to bridge the gap in cancer care disparities. Through $15 million in funding from Pfizer, the initiative aims to improve health outcomes in medically underrepresented communities across the United States by enhancing awareness of and access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities, and patient support and comprehensive navigation. “Change the Odds” will initially focus on breast and prostate cancer in medically underserved communities, with the potential to expand to additional cancer types. ACS plans to engage additional partners to extend the reach of the programmatic activities to more individuals and deepen the tangible impact in select communities.

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate – and neither should cancer care,” said Chris Boshoff, Chief Oncology Officer and Executive Vice President, Pfizer. “Everyone should have the same opportunity to access the latest advances in care, regardless of their background or where they live. We’re proud to partner with the American Cancer Society on a broad, community-focused initiative to reach people living with cancer where they are, with urgency, and connect them to resources to receive the care they deserve.”

Breast and prostate cancer are the most common types of cancer diagnosed among women and men in the United States, respectively.ⁱ Incidence for both cancers continues to increase nationwide^ii,iii with a greater impact for certain races and ethnicities^iv, which can be more pronounced in urban areas.^v In addition, people living in rural areas in the United States face barriers to accessing cancer screening and quality care,^vi leading to higher mortality rates.^vii Feelings of social isolation experienced by people living with breast or prostate cancer are associated with poorer outcomes,^viii,ix underscoring a critical need for community-centric approaches that are designed to make a tangible difference in patients’ lives by addressing their whole health needs, tackling seclusion and providing the help they need to ensure timely access to scientific advances in care.

“Our goal of ending cancer as we know it, for everyone, including medically underrepresented communities, can only be attained through strong and actionable partnerships with a shared vision like ours with Pfizer,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society. “Our collaboration will help unlock ACS’ full potential in addressing health disparities with measurable, sustainable and systemic solutions to deliver access to high-quality care and treatments for every individual.”

ACS will leverage its broad network and engage on-the-ground partners to connect individuals and promote awareness of no- and low-cost screening and access to programs and services through culturally sensitive outreach in communities disproportionately impacted by breast and prostate cancer. ACS aims to accelerate access to today’s treatments and tomorrow’s scientific advancements to “Change the Odds” to drive sustainable solutions to help ensure equitable outcomes for all patients.

Through ACS’ extensive evidence-based patient navigation programs, patients will be guided through the complexities of their cancer journey and given information to help them understand and access recommended screening, treatments, community resources, and emotional support. ACS will also work to empower patients and healthcare providers in several medically underrepresented communities with information about clinical trials and address potential barriers to trial participation. Additionally, ACS will work alongside its vast network of Health Equity Ambassadors to deliver trusted cancer prevention and early detection resources and information into each community.

For more information about “Change the Odds” please visit www.cancer.org/ChangeTheOdds.

Key Statistics:

• According to the latest research from ACS, about 299,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024, with more than 35,000 deaths.^x
• The incidence of prostate cancer is about 70% higher in Black men than in White men.^xi Black men are over two times more likely to die from the disease than White, Hispanic or Asian American/Pacific Islander men.^xi
• Nearly 311,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, with more than 42,000 deaths.^x
• Despite having a 4 percent lower incidence of breast cancer, Black women with breast cancer are 40% more likely to die than White women and twice as likely to die if they are younger than the age of 50.^xii Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed with later-staged breast cancer in comparison to White women.^xiii
• While there has been progress in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment in the United States, people who are of lower socioeconomic status and living in rural areas have not benefited equitably from these advances.^xiv In general, survival after a cancer diagnosis is shorter for people of all races who have a lower socioeconomic status and who live in a more rural area than those who do not.^xiv
• Although cancer can disproportionately impact ethnic/racial groups in both incidence and outcome, racial minorities are less likely to be included in clinical trials.^iv
• Those living in rural areas often experience transportation challenges and other barriers to clinical trial participation.^vi

About The American Cancer Society 
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Pfizer Oncology 
At Pfizer Oncology, we are at the forefront of a new era in cancer care. Our industry-leading portfolio and extensive pipeline includes game-changing mechanisms of action to attack cancer from multiple angles, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), small molecules, bispecifics and other immunotherapies. We are focused on delivering transformative therapies in some of the world’s most common cancers, including breast cancer, genitourinary cancer and hematologic malignancies, as well as melanoma, gastrointestinal, gynecological and thoracic cancers, which includes lung cancer. Driven by science, we are committed to accelerating breakthroughs to extend and improve patients’ lives.

Pfizer Disclosure Notice

The information contained in this release is as of February 5, 2024. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking statements about Pfizer and the American Cancer Society’s launch of “Change the Odds: Uniting to Improve Cancer Outcomes,” a three-year initiative which aims to improve health outcomes in medically underrepresented communities across the United States by enhancing awareness of and access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities, and patient support and comprehensive navigation, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for our clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Pfizer’s product candidates, including development of products or therapies by other companies; manufacturing capabilities or capacity; uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain recommendations from vaccine technical committees and other public health authorities and uncertainties regarding the commercial impact of any such recommendations; the uncertainties inherent in business and financial planning, including, without limitation, risks related to Pfizer’s business and prospects, adverse developments in Pfizer’s markets, or adverse developments in the U.S. or global capital markets, credit markets, regulatory environment or economies generally; uncertainties regarding the success of the Accord; the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.

^{_________________________
i} American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/research/acs-research-news/facts-and-figures-2024.html#:~:text=In%20men%2C%20the%20top%203,51%25%20of%20all%20cancer%20cases. 
ⁱⁱ American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html 
ⁱⁱⁱ American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html 
^iv American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2022-2024 
^v Zahnd WE, James AS, Jenkins WD, Izadi SR, Fogleman AJ, Steward DE, Colditz GA, Brard L. Rural-Urban Differences in Cancer Incidence and Trends in the United States. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2018 Nov;27(11):1265-1274. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-0430. Epub 2017 Jul 27. PMID: 28751476; PMCID: PMC5787045 
^vi Henley SJ, Jemal A. Rural Cancer Control: Bridging the Chasm in Geographic Health Inequity. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2018 Nov;27(11):1248-1251. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-18-0807. PMID: 30385497; PMCID: PMC7076627. 
^vii Yabroff KR, Han X, Zhao J, Nogueira L, Jemal A. Rural Cancer Disparities in the United States: A Multilevel Framework to Improve Access to Care and Patient Outcomes. JCO Oncol Pract. 2020 Jul;16(7):409-413. doi: 10.1200/OP.20.00352. Epub 2020 Jun 23. PMID: 32574130. 
^viii Nature.com https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01617-6 
^ix Family structure and living arrangements as indicators of social isolation, and prostate cancer risk - ScienceDirect 
^x American Cancer Society. Cancer statistics, 2024 - Siegel - 2024 - CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians - Wiley Online Library 
^xi American Cancer Society – Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 
^xii American Cancer Society. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21754. 
^xiii American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-hispanics-and-latinos/hispanic-latino-2021-2023-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf 
^xiv American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society’s report on the status of cancer disparities in the United States, 2023. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21812

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Pfizer Media Contact:

+1 (212) 733-1226

PfizerMediaRelations@Pfizer.com

Pfizer Investor Contact:

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IR@Pfizer.com

American Cancer Society Media Contact:

Ana Marquez

ana.marquez@cancer.org

Source: Pfizer Inc.

FAQ

What is the 'Change the Odds: Uniting to Improve Cancer Outcomes' initiative about?

The initiative aims to bridge the gap in cancer care disparities in medically underrepresented communities across the United States, with a focus on enhancing awareness of and access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities, and patient support.

How much funding has Pfizer committed to the initiative?

Pfizer has committed $15 million in funding to support the initiative.

What types of cancer will the initiative initially focus on?

The initiative will initially focus on breast and prostate cancer in medically underserved communities, with the potential to expand to additional cancer types.

What are the goals of the initiative in addressing cancer care disparities?

The initiative aims to address barriers to accessing cancer screening and quality care in medically underrepresented communities, with plans to engage additional partners to extend the program's reach.

What is the impact of the initiative on rural areas in the United States?

The initiative aims to address barriers to accessing cancer screening and quality care in rural areas, aiming to reduce higher mortality rates in these regions.