IT CAN TAKE 12 YEARS TO BRING A DRUG TO THE MARKET.
Even with fast-tracking, it takes more than six years to get a drug approved, and longer to make it available. This is not acceptable for people with lethal diseases. Every month of delay translates into thousands of life-years lost, and suffering that could have been alleviated. We have proposals that would speed up the process – we need your help to have them heard.
WHEN SAFETY KILLS.
Clinical trials are required for drug approval. However, in the case of emerging treatments for lethal diseases (like gene-targeted agents, immunotherapies, CRISPR-based therapies and others), they can be unnecessarily slowed by inappropriate research designs. Once the trials are complete, complex bureaucratic systems and red tape add years to getting the treatments to people.
The cost is thousands of lives that are lost and unnecessary suffering – and drug prices that are driven up by the lengthy, costly process. A study published in Cancer Medicine looked at 27 different clinical trials. It showed that reducing drug approval time to five years could have saved more than 1,900,000 life-years if only 10% of all relevant patients were treated! Quick safe and rational reform is needed.
RISK HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING IF YOU’RE FACING DEATH.
On 17 June 2016, Bill C-14 legalized assisted dying in Canada. Yet lethally ill patients are routinely denied early access to promising life-extending or curative experimental therapies.
ABOUT US
LSTN (Life-Saving Therapies Network) is a patient-led international network of oncologists, researchers, regulators, medical ethicists, health economists and others from North America and the EU. Our mission is to enable patients with lethal diseases to have faster access to better therapies. Our initiatives are evidence-based and supported by a cross section of key players in the healthcare system internationally. Please click here to learn more about our members & advisors.
Our areas of focus include clinical research, regulatory and reimbursement reform.
ARTICLES
Opinion: Canadian healthcare choke points put patient lives at risk
From Healthing.ca: Canada’s healthcare system is strained. It was always strained. It was designed that way. The United States healthcare system has excess capacity. Costs are constrained by insurance companies requiring pre-approval before non-emergency interventions. Physicians and hospitals typically have [...]
Beyond Participation: Evaluating the Role of Patients in Designing Oncology Clinical Trials
From MDPI: Abstract Historically, subject matter experts and healthcare professionals have played a pivotal role in driving oncology clinical trials. Although patients have been key participants, their deliberate and active contribution to the design and decision-making process has been limited. [...]
RAPID framework for improved access to precision oncology for lethal disease: Results from a modified multi-round delphi study
From the Frontiers website: Introduction Predictive oncology, germline technologies, and adaptive seamless trials are promising advances in the treatment of lethal cancers. Yet, access to these therapies is stymied by costly research, regulatory barriers, and structural inequalities worsened by the [...]
Why Cancer Still Sucks Webinar
Dr. Dave Steward recently gave a webinar to Prostate Cancer Support Canada to answer common questions people have about cancer.
VIDEOS
COMPASS FOR CHANGE
Our advocacy landscape is complex and multi-leveled. Our Compass for Change makes each element of our plan clear and helps us navigate our way forward. Please click here to find more detail.
LEAD WITH PATIENT ADVOCACY
Align with patient groups working
on these same nationally and
internationally; use patient-lead
approach for all research and
policy initiatives
MAKE THERAPIES ACCESSIBLE
Promote access to new precision
therapies; promote flexible designs
and adaptive trials
Use social determinants of health lens
Follow patients post trial.
LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY
Use digital technologies and data
sharing mechanisms to grow
international netoworks, promote
knowledge exchange and
make partnerships more efficient.
BRIDGE DATA SILOS
Real world evidence should
be global. Access to comparators wil
accelerate therapies to patients, cut
costs,engage patients; and boost
assurance data for regulators.
PROMOTE REGULATORY EFFICIENCY
Work with Health Canada to be
the key driver for regulatory change.
Liaise across provincial agencies
to fully support and implement
the Regulatory Review and Drug
Development Initiative (R2D2)
CREATE POLITICAL WILL
Work with partners in government
to represeant therapeutic access as
their issue Present this model as
the "Uniquely Canadian approach
to therapies for lethal diseases.
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JOIN US
Please join us. It doesn’t matter if you’re a patient, a caregiver, a physician, a researcher – or simply interested. We need you and so do those with lethal diseases who may already know that the expiration date on their birth certificate is rapidly approaching.
Help us develop an awareness campaign and educate people about this issue. Bring your expertise to our expert conversations. Participate in online support groups. Make connections in the network. Help us refine and broaden the appeal of our message.