Pfizer awards $7 million towards global cancer control efforts

Since 2007, 29 Global Health Partnerships grants have been awarded to NGOs working in more than 46 countries around the world. These new grants support the global commitment of the Pfizer Foundation and Pfizer's Oncology Business Unit to promote access to quality health care and education and to advance science and innovation in the development of breakthrough medicines that will cure or control cancer.

“These grants represent an important step in enabling us to partner with key scientists and organizations to encourage the advancement of cancer education and research globally,” said Mace Rothenberg, M.D., vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs for Pfizer's Oncology Business Unit. “This year's grants focus on critically important areas such as early breast cancer detection and education, establishment of patient navigation programs and methods to increase overall knowledge and understanding of cancer - all of which play an important role in the fight against cancer.”

Cancer accounts for one in eight deaths globally - more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. One in three people will get cancer in their lifetime: each year, more than 11 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed and close to 8 million people die from cancer. Among women worldwide, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Globally there are an estimated 4.4 million women alive who have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the last five years. In developed countries, 30 percent of women with earlier stages of breast cancer will eventually be diagnosed with metastatic disease. In developing countries, the majority of women with breast cancer are diagnosed with advanced stage disease.

The Pfizer Foundation Global Health Partnership program is supporting 29 innovative public health programs together with Pfizer Inc offices in support of both cancer and tobacco control by providing $47 million in funding over four years. Jointly funded by the Pfizer Foundation and Pfizer Inc, this year's $7 million investment in oncology will help cancer organizations to improve prevention, early detection and diagnosis for breast cancer; strengthen public awareness of cancer risks; increase patients' knowledge and understanding of treatment options, with a special focus on psycho-social factors; and engage in long-term capacity building efforts through training, technical assistance, and collaborative partnerships.

“We are grateful to the Pfizer Foundation for its support of our five-year cancer prevention program, ‘Today's children, tomorrow's world'”. We have run campaigns against second-hand tobacco smoke, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, overweight and obesity and conducted a survey of cancer beliefs and behavior that policymakers everywhere will find useful in promoting cancer prevention”, said, Isabel Mortara, UICC executive director.

The Global Health Partnerships grants will be evaluated by the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, whose task is to build sustainable evaluation capacity among grantees. “In partnership with Johns Hopkins and our outstanding partners, we are pleased to take a very rigorous approach to our programs, yielding learnings that strengthen national cancer agencies and improve public health policies and services for cancer patients,” said Caroline Roan, vice president, Pfizer Foundation.

Pfizer South Africa
Solly Mabotha
Pfizer Public Relations Manager
www.pfizer.com