FIND KRAS G12C: a campaign about lung cancer by Amgen Hellas
In collaboration with FairLife L.C.C.
Amgen Hellas launches the “Find KRAS G12C” campaign, an awareness initiative on the importance of lung cancer’s early and targeted diagnosis, in collaboration with the non-profit social organization Fairlife- Lung Cancer Care and Prevention.
Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, diagnosed with the KRAS G12C mutation, now have the chance to receive targeted treatment that can prolong and improve their quality of life. It is therefore very important to identify the mutation in time, by molecular testing.
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent and serious types of cancer in both men and women. It is the 3rd most common type of cancer in Europe, with 318,298 new cases diagnosed in 20201. There are 2 main types of lung cancer: Non – Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), which differ in both treatment and prognosis. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and accounts for about 85% of lung cancer diagnoses2.
What are biomarkers and why are they important?
Biomarkers provide information that can help doctors learn more about how cancer cells grow and spread. Information on biomarkers of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer offers physicians important input on how to optimize patient management – at least 1 out of 2 patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer have an active biomarker3,4. The most important information, provided by screening, is whether the biomarker that will be identified is active, i.e. whether there is a targeted treatment5 for that specific biomarker.
About biomarker KRAS and the mutation KRAS G12C
KRAS is a gene, whose mutation leads to oncogenesis, i.e. cancer development. The KRAS gene has multiple mutations. The most common mutation, found in 1 in 8 patients (13%)with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, in its non-squamous form, is KRAS G12C6.
“Find KRAS G12C” campaign’s main objective is to raise public awareness of the value of lung cancer’s early diagnosis and early biomarker testing, which can lead to targeted treatment. As the detection rate at early stages of the disease is extremely low and most patients develop symptoms, when lung cancer is in advanced stage, early diagnosis and molecular screening increase both survival chances and the available treatment options. The campaign’s messages reach the public through a range of actions, including radio coverage, digital banners, article writing and social media posts.
Korina Pateli-Bell, President of FairLife L.C.C.,states: “Key focus of FairLife L.C.C.’s actions is to inform and raise public awareness of the importance of early screening and early diagnosis of Lung Cancer. Significant collaborations, such as the “Find KRAS G12C” campaign by Amgen Hellas with the FairLife L.C.C. team, directly reach the public and patients suffering from the disease and emphasize the importance of targeted treatments to improve the patient’s quality of life.”
“Through the ‘Find KRAS G12C’ campaign, we look to highlight the extreme importance of lung cancer’s early diagnosis. Although this form of cancer is the third most prevalent in Europe, targeted treatments are now reshaping the ways, in which it can be treated. At Amgen, we believe that the future lies in the discovery of new targeted therapies for specific cancers, always taking into account particular needs of patients. We are proud to be part of this remarkable change,” added Christos Boukis, Value, Access & Policy Lead, Amgen Hellas.
Learn more about KRAS G12C in www.fairlifelcc.com/vres-to-kras-g12c/
About Amgen
Driven by its focus on the therapeutic benefits of biology to patients suffering from serious diseases, Amgen is focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative therapies. This approach, through the use of tools such as advanced human genetics, aims to unravel the complexity of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
At Amgen, we focus on therapeutic areas, where uncovered medical need is identified, leveraging our years of expertise and deep knowledge of biologics manufacturing, for the benefit of improving patients’ lives. A pioneer in biotechnology and research since 1980, Amgen is now the world’s largest independent biotechnology company, with therapies that have helped millions of patients around the world, while developing one of the most innovative portfolios of new molecules in the biopharmaceutical industry with the potential to approach future treatment of serious diseases in new, revolutionary ways.
About FairLife L.C.C.
“FairLife- Lung Cancer Care and Prevention”, the first non-profit social organization in Greece, exclusively dedicated to lung cancer, was created in memory of Simon Bell, who lost the battle with lung cancer, at age 57, in August 2020. The scientific work of the organization is supported and coordinated by lung cancer experts and a specialized interdisciplinary team from Greece and abroad. Moreover, an ever-growing group of volunteers, patients and caregivers, significantly contribute to reduce lung cancer toll in our country.
For more information about the above press release, please contact:
AMGEN
Maria Bimpi Tel.: 210 3447000 | mbimpi@amgen.com
Weber Shandwick
John Keimalis, 210 8171277, John.Keimalis@webershandwick.gr
- https://ecis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/explorer.php?$0-0$1-All$4-1,2$3-22$6-0,85$5-2020,2020$7-7$2-All$CEstByCountry$X0_8-3$X0_19-AE27$X0_20-No$CEstBySexByCountry$X1_8-3$X1_19-AE27$X1_-1-1$CEstByIndiByCountry$X2_8-3$X2_19-AE27$X2_20-No$CEstRelative$X3_8-3$X3_9-AE27$X3_19-AE27$CEstByCountryTable$X4_19-AE27
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- Nadler E, Pavilack M, Clark J, Espirito J, Fernandes A. Biomarker testing rates in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer treated in the community. J Cancer Ther. 2019;10:971–984.
- Zhu Y, Han Y, Bhandari NR, Hess L. CGE21-031: genomic biomarker testing, treatments, and survival outcomes among patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC in the US: a retrospective cohort study. J Natl Compr Canc Network. 2021;19:CGE21-031.
- DS Ettinger, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 3.2022, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2022 May;20(5):497-530. doi:10.6004/jnccn.2022.0025
- Biernacka A, et al. Cancer Genet. 2016;209:195-198
Athens,October 10, 2022