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news.GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has funded the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) two individual $2m grants to support clinical studies of Ofatumumab (Arzerra, GlaxoSmithKline) in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and Pazopanib (Votrient, GSK) in the treatment of solid tumors.
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The NCCN Oncology Research Program (ORP) facilitates all phases of clinical research by identifying clinical investigators and initiating trials at NCCN Member Institutions.
GSK said that the ORP is expected to use the grants to support investigator initiated clinical and correlative studies at its NCCN Member Institutions for both the drugs.
Ofatumumab has been granted FDA approval in October 2009, for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab.
Apart from CLL, it is anticipated that clinical trials at NCCN Member Institutions is expected to further evaluate the therapy’s effect in various lymphomas, including follicular, mantle cell, diffuse large B cell, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL).
Reportedly, Pazopanib has received approval from the FDA to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. The research grant to NCCN is expected to assess the effectiveness of Pazopanib in solid tumors including renal, sarcoma, thyroid, neuroendocrine, and ovarian cancers.
William McGivney, CEO of NCCN, said: “Being awarded this research funding underscores NCCN’s achievements in developing and implementing programs that improve survival and the quality of life for patients with cancer.”
Jeffrey Bloss, vice president and leader of medicine development at GSK Oncology, said: “This research funding to NCCN is expected to help expand the research and knowledge base of GSK Oncology’s newer cancer therapies, Pazopanib and Ofatumumab.”