BREAKING: Congress Increases Prostate Cancer Research Funding to a Historic $110M Level December 17, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMEDIA CONTACT:Ilana Ostrin202-657-2249 (cell)ilana@zerocancer.org For the third time in four years, prostate cancer research is increased by $10M Washington, D.C. – Bipartisan congressional support has increased funding for the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) to a historic level of $110M. This approved increase of $10M will begin in FY20, and will help seed more research projects to bring innovative breakthroughs from the science bench to the patients’ bedside.Prostate cancer — which kills a man every 17 minutes — has only about a 30 percent survival rate once it reaches advanced stages, making new treatment options for those with advanced disease critical to survival.“Patients like Steve Bleser with advanced prostate cancer have limited treatment options,” said ZERO CEO, Jamie Bearse. “With this additional research funding from Congress, Steve and patients across the nation can now have hope that new breakthroughs will be in the pipeline. Amazing milestones like this only happen because of our dedicated and passionate champions from around the country who are tireless in sharing our mission to end prostate cancer.”Previous PCRP funding has led to the commercial development of four advanced prostate cancer treatments and one new diagnostic test. The four treatments are XGEVAⓇ, ZYTIGAⓇ, XTANDIⓇ, and ERLEADAⓇ. The advanced diagnostic test is the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Test.Steve Bleser, an advanced prostate cancer patient in North Carolina, helped bring the increased funding by sharing his story with his elected officials in Congress. “I’ve done chemo, radiation, and many other treatments. My doctors say there are no more options for me,” said Bleser. “This is unacceptable. I won’t give up this fight — funding research is critical to help men like me live longer and have more time.Bleser is just one of the hundreds of fierce advocates and ZERO Champions from around the country who have attended the ZERO Prostate Cancer Summit, an annual advocacy event on Capitol Hill that brings awareness to the critical need for more prostate cancer research funding.This latest round of PCRP funding was championed by Congressional leaders with bipartisan support. Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) spearheaded the effort to secure PCRP funding, collecting signatures from more than 170 House and Senate members on letters to the appropriations committee. About ZERO Prostate CancerZERO Prostate Cancer (ZERO) is on a mission to improve and save lives from prostate cancer through advocacy, education, awareness, and support. Formerly known as the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, ZERO was founded in 1996 to stand up for people impacted by prostate cancer. Today, ZERO serves as the nation's leading prostate cancer organization, advancing a future where prostate cancer detection is early, support is unwavering, and care is accessible to all. For almost 30 years, ZERO has led the way in prostate cancer advocacy and support, successfully unlocking funding toward breakthrough discoveries, treatments, and lifesaving access to care.As the nation's #1 provider of prostate cancer resources, programs, and services, ZERO has supported millions of people at-risk or diagnosed, and their families. As the voice of the prostate cancer community, ZERO's urgent focus on breaking barriers to survival—by closing gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and care—brings critical attention to those most likely to be impacted by this disease. Learn more at ZEROCancer.org. Press Release
BREAKING: Congress Increases Prostate Cancer Research Funding to a Historic $110M Level December 17, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMEDIA CONTACT:Ilana Ostrin202-657-2249 (cell)ilana@zerocancer.org For the third time in four years, prostate cancer research is increased by $10M Washington, D.C. – Bipartisan congressional support has increased funding for the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) to a historic level of $110M. This approved increase of $10M will begin in FY20, and will help seed more research projects to bring innovative breakthroughs from the science bench to the patients’ bedside.Prostate cancer — which kills a man every 17 minutes — has only about a 30 percent survival rate once it reaches advanced stages, making new treatment options for those with advanced disease critical to survival.“Patients like Steve Bleser with advanced prostate cancer have limited treatment options,” said ZERO CEO, Jamie Bearse. “With this additional research funding from Congress, Steve and patients across the nation can now have hope that new breakthroughs will be in the pipeline. Amazing milestones like this only happen because of our dedicated and passionate champions from around the country who are tireless in sharing our mission to end prostate cancer.”Previous PCRP funding has led to the commercial development of four advanced prostate cancer treatments and one new diagnostic test. The four treatments are XGEVAⓇ, ZYTIGAⓇ, XTANDIⓇ, and ERLEADAⓇ. The advanced diagnostic test is the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Test.Steve Bleser, an advanced prostate cancer patient in North Carolina, helped bring the increased funding by sharing his story with his elected officials in Congress. “I’ve done chemo, radiation, and many other treatments. My doctors say there are no more options for me,” said Bleser. “This is unacceptable. I won’t give up this fight — funding research is critical to help men like me live longer and have more time.Bleser is just one of the hundreds of fierce advocates and ZERO Champions from around the country who have attended the ZERO Prostate Cancer Summit, an annual advocacy event on Capitol Hill that brings awareness to the critical need for more prostate cancer research funding.This latest round of PCRP funding was championed by Congressional leaders with bipartisan support. Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) spearheaded the effort to secure PCRP funding, collecting signatures from more than 170 House and Senate members on letters to the appropriations committee.
About ZERO Prostate CancerZERO Prostate Cancer (ZERO) is on a mission to improve and save lives from prostate cancer through advocacy, education, awareness, and support. Formerly known as the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, ZERO was founded in 1996 to stand up for people impacted by prostate cancer. Today, ZERO serves as the nation's leading prostate cancer organization, advancing a future where prostate cancer detection is early, support is unwavering, and care is accessible to all. For almost 30 years, ZERO has led the way in prostate cancer advocacy and support, successfully unlocking funding toward breakthrough discoveries, treatments, and lifesaving access to care.As the nation's #1 provider of prostate cancer resources, programs, and services, ZERO has supported millions of people at-risk or diagnosed, and their families. As the voice of the prostate cancer community, ZERO's urgent focus on breaking barriers to survival—by closing gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and care—brings critical attention to those most likely to be impacted by this disease. Learn more at ZEROCancer.org.
