IFADD/ICAN Accomplishments

1997: The Herb Drinkwater Cancer Research Fundraiser

Thanks to the significant leadership of Jerry Hirsch, Diana Smith, Tim Bray, and Karen Wittmer, the Herb Drinkwater Cancer Research Fundraiser in June 1997 - IFADD's first fundraiser - was a great success. In less than 30 days, over $300,000 was raised for IFADD and the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale. IFADD established the Herbert R. Drinkwater Laboratories for pathbreaking anticancer drug discovery at the Arizona State University Cancer Research Institute ("ASU-CRI"). Mayo's share of the proceeds was earmarked for future clinical trials of two promising ASU-CRI compounds: dabis maleate and phyllanthostatin.

1998: Legislative and Lobbying Efforts Raised $10 million for Cancer Research

In 1997-1998, IFADD conceived and spearheaded the effort in the State Legislature which resulted in a $10 million appropriation for Arizona’s War on Cancer, creating the "Arizona Anticancer Drug Discovery Program." The first round of competitive grant awards in 1999 distributed $7 million to the ASU-CRI, the Arizona Cancer Center, and the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Representative (now State Senator) Barbara Leff, sponsor of House Bill 2263, contributed unique legislative management and advocacy skills that were central to the success of IFADD's effort. Supported by a broad-based coalition of organizations and activists galvanized by IFADD, the bill passed overwhelmingly in both houses and was signed by Governor Hull on May 29, 1998. The coordinated drug discovery pipeline, envisioned by the law, was designed to expedite the development of anticancer drugs, with the goal of reducing the time it currently takes to bring a promising agent from discovery to clinical trials.

1999: Our Organizational Leaders Received the ASU-CRI Distinguished Achievements Awards

In 1999, IFADD continued its federal lobbying and fundraising efforts, adding pharmaceutical licensing matters to its portfolio. IFADD enlisted the assistance of C. Owen Paepke, noted patent lawyer at Fennemore Craig PC in Phoenix, as its pro bono attorney specializing in intellectual property issues affecting the drug pipeline.

In June, 1999, Marcia Horn, President and CEO, and Sidney M. Rosen, IFADD’s Founding Chairman, received the Arizona State University Cancer Research Institute's Distinguished Achievements Award. This award had been given only four other times in the ASU-CRI’s history: to Diane Cummings Halle, to the late Jack Whiteman, and to both the Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Rippel Foundation. In light of overwhelming patient demand, the IFADD Board determined that the organization would thereafter devote all of its resources to expanding its Cancer Patient Advocacy Programs and Clinical Trials Advocacy Programs.

Since 2001: Successful Efforts to Enhance the Drug Pipeline
and the Expansion of ICAN's Personalized Medicine Cancer Case Management Services

IFADD’s state legislative efforts, in seeking to increase the portion of all pharmaceutical licensing revenues targeted to the state's centers of anticancer drug discovery, resulted in a broad agreement earmarking additional revenues to the ASU-CRI. In addition, IFADD pursued its pharmaceutical licensing and federal legislative projects, culminating in ASU-CRI Director and Regents Professor of Cancer Research and Medical Chemistry Dr. G. Robert Pettit's testimony to the U.S. House Government Reform Committee on June 8, 2000. Based on this pivitol testimony, the IFADD/ICAN boards have consistently resolved to focus their lobbying efforts on the issue of anticancer drug discovery funding at the national level.

At the end of 2006, IFADD’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a corporate name change to International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN) to reflect the 24/7 nature of the organization's Cancer Patient Advocacy Programs and Clinical Trials Advocacy Programs dealing with hundreds of patient cases, ranging from commonly diagnosed solid tumors such as lung, prostate, breast, colon, bladder, melanoma, and pancreas to the rarest of cancers, especially in the thyroid and kidney cancer area, the brain tumor area, and the gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancy areas. ICAN expanded its programs to cover indigent patients and Native Peoples through the Gary Avey Lung Cancer Patient Advocacy Program for Native Peoples. Over the last several years, ICAN has augmented its pediatric leukemia programs and adult programs in Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia. Over the last several years, ICAN has continued to pursue Cancer Patient Advocacy Programs not only in the solid tumor arena but has continued to expand its hematological cancer programs, particularly programs in Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia.

ICAN has also had experience with the very difficult area of applications for "Single Patient Investigational New Drug (IND) for Compassionate or Emergency Use" working with patients and physicians to request a pharmaceutical/biotech manufacturer's permission to use an unapproved drug for a single patient, which, if approved by the pharmaceutical company, is then reviewed by the FDA's CDER Oncology Drug Products Division (usually within 24 hours - we cannot praise more highly the public spiritedness and efficiency of the FDA monitors in this regard). ICAN has been involved in requests ranging from colon cancer to alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) to esophageal cancer. ICAN has also urged the creation of Expanded Access Programs for promising new agents. Moreover, ICAN has worked with the National Cancer Institute on access to investigational new drugs which have been co-sponsored by the NCI. ICAN has also consulted directly with pharmaceutical company executives to assist patients outside the U.S. with obtaining access to a drug approved in the U.S. but not in a particular country. The Muriel Finlayson Williams Compassionate Use Program at ICAN is a direct result of those efforts with respect to one of our Australian patients.

Since its founding, ICAN has pursued its strategic plan for major drug discovery initiatives, consulting with leading cancer researchers from across the country. (Please see ICAN Drug Discovery Efforts and Scientific Advisory Council sections.) Remission Coach ^TM as well as expanded its Personalized Medicine Cancer Case Management Services.