Xisike – Vanguard Oncology Research Fund Officially Launched in Shanghai

Shanghai, December 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 8, 2019, the “CSCO – Leading Cancer Research Fund,” initiated by the Beijing CSCO Clinical Oncology Research Foundation and supported by AstraZeneca, was officially launched in Shanghai. The fund aims to advance clinical oncology practice and scientific research in China, support the development of medical talent, explore diagnosis and treatment models suited to the Chinese population through real-world clinical studies, improve patient survival benefits, and benefit more cancer patients in China.

Previously, the “Outline of the ‘Healthy China 2030’ Plan” issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council set forth the goals and tasks for building a Healthy China. The establishment of this fund represents a significant step in actively responding to the “Healthy China 2030” Plan and further promoting the vigorous development of clinical oncology in China.

# The Significant Threat of Cancer: Scientific Advancements and National Policies Jointly Improve Patient Survival

Cancer has always been one of the major public health issues seriously threatening the health of the Chinese population. Meanwhile, significant progress continues to be made in cancer diagnosis and treatment in China. With the continuous improvement of national policies such as medical insurance coverage, patients are not only able to extend their survival time but also experience improved quality of life, along with reduced psychological and financial burdens.

Taking lung cancer as an example, it is the cancer with the highest incidence and mortality rates in China.one of, known as the "leading cause of cancer-related deaths." However, scientific and academic advancements in the field of lung cancer haveIs suddenWith rapid advancements, the discovery and clinical application of targets such as EGFR and ALK have offered hope for survival to an increasing number of lung cancer patients. In 2004, gefitinib, the first oral targeted therapy for lung cancer, was launched in China, bringing targeted therapy into the mainstream and officially ushering in the era of precision diagnosis and treatment in China. Precision therapy has not only extended the survival of cancer patients but also significantly improved their quality of life. In 2017, osimertinib, a third-generation targeted drug for lung cancer, was approved in China for second-line treatment of EGFR-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with T790M mutations, and it was included in the National Reimbursement Drug List in 2018. In 2018, the first-line indication for osimertinib was also successfully approved in China, enabling more patients with EGFR-positive advanced NSCLC to benefit from precision targeted therapy. Meanwhile, immunotherapy has also developed rapidly, providing survival benefits even for lung cancer patients without genetic mutations.

The progress in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer is merely a microcosm of the journey of oncology care in China. Within the field of oncology in China, countless scholars and experts have remained dedicated to improving the diagnostic and therapeutic standards and efficacy for various types of tumors. Through continuous exploration and research, they are gradually overcoming the challenges in cancer treatment, thereby extending the overall survival of cancer patients.

The fund will cover a variety of high-incidence tumor types in China and the most cutting-edge academic hotspot areas.

Professor Qin Shukui, Deputy Supervisor and Former Chairman of the Beijing Hope Run Specialized Clinical Oncology Research Foundation, and Vice President of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), stated, “Advances in medical research have made tremendous contributions to humanity, opening up entirely new prospects for human health. In this context, medical scientific research plays a crucial role in promoting medical development. Both in the past and at present, many significant medical breakthroughs have been built upon sustained, long-term research efforts. Driven by vigorous medical research, China’s cancer prevention and control initiatives will advance, with clinical oncology in China poised to accelerate its progress, keeping pace with international peers and jointly contributing to the global fight against cancer.”

Against this backdrop, the “AstraZeneca – Navigating Oncology Research Fund” was established. According to the fund’s announcement, the total donation amount is RMB 22 million, representing the largest single grant in the history of the AstraZeneca Foundation. The fund will adopt the latest, transparent, and efficient online management system of the CSCO Foundation. It aims to support high-level research and the publication of high-quality articles, generate clinical data from Chinese patients, and comprehensively enhance the scientific research and clinical capabilities of Chinese physicians, thereby boosting their global scientific influence.

AsA purely public-welfare academic initiative, this fund involves no commercial activities or interests. It primarily supports clinical and related translational research in lung cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer, focusing on anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy, targeted therapies against EGFR and DDR pathways, and endocrine therapy. The program plans to support approximately 52 basic and translational medical research projects in the field of oncology.

Professor Li Jin, Chairman of the Beijing CSCO Clinical Oncology Research Foundation and former President of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), shared, “In the early stages of China’s reform and opening-up, there were few innovative drugs developed by domestic pharmaceutical companies, and Chinese scholars had limited opportunities to participate in new drug development. This resulted in a gap between Chinese physicians and their counterparts in advanced Western countries. However, in recent years, we have become integrated into the global process of novel drug creation, thereby enriching our clinical practice and clinical research experience, with a natural and continuous improvement in our research standards. I believe that the ‘CSCO – Navigating Oncology Research Fund’ will help more Chinese clinicians conduct clinical and translational research in cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapy, enhance the level of translational medical research and clinical studies, and ultimately benefit cancer patients to a greater extent. In the future, clinical research in China will undoubtedly attract greater international attention.”

According to Professor Li, the fund maintains an expert pool of over 100 specialists who will conduct blind reviews of all grant applications. The selection process is divided into four tiers. The first tier is the Young Investigator Grant, targeted at physicians aged 45 and under, aiming to provide research training and development through small-scale funding. The second tier accepts applications from oncologists with associate senior professional titles or higher, focusing primarily on selecting clinically valuable studies. The third tier is open to scholars with full senior professional titles or higher who have established academic influence in their field; based on the review of grant proposals and annual reports, experts decide whether to provide substantial funding for one to two phases of the project. The fourth tier targets outstanding projects from the third tier that have received two-phase funding; after interviews and selection by a panel of 8–10 experts, the preferred projects will be awarded significant large-scale funding.

Every small step taken by clinicians represents a giant leap for patients’ survival. Every minor advancement in oncology treatment is cause for celebration, and behind each such progress lies the relentless effort of multi-party collaboration. Ms. Yin Min, General Manager of AstraZeneca China’s Oncology Business Unit, as a supporter of this fund, stated, “As an innovation-driven global biopharmaceutical company, we firmly believe that ‘science ignites infinite possibilities.’ We prioritize science in all our endeavors, committing ourselves to exploring disease mechanisms, therapeutic approaches, and innovative drugs, thereby bringing profound changes to the healthcare industry. Meanwhile, we remain steadfastly patient-centric, upholding the vision of ‘making cancer no longer a leading cause of death’ within our oncology business. We are dedicated to advancing scientific progress in the field of oncology, safeguarding the lives, health, and quality of life of cancer patients in China and worldwide.”

Ms. Yang Haiying, Vice President of AstraZeneca China and Head of Medical Affairs, further stated, “AstraZeneca has consistently provided strong support for the various academic initiatives of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO). By sponsoring the Heathco–Pilot Oncology Research Fund, we aim to support and encourage Chinese clinicians in conducting clinical and translational research on cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapy, thereby helping to advance the standards of translational medical science and clinical research, ultimately benefiting cancer patients to a greater extent.”