Enhanced agreement to transform cancer care, improve outcomes by
accelerating development and access to life-changing medicines
McKesson and Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN), one of the world’s leading
biotechnology companies, have signed a strategic agreement to help
improve cancer care in community oncology settings. Today, 1 in 5
cancer patients receives an Amgen medicine, while McKesson reaches
20% of U.S. cancer patients. This multi-year agreement bridges the
power and reach of the two companies and will focus on reducing
gaps in care by optimizing access to innovative precision medicine
and immuno-oncology in the community setting.
Access to the latest innovations in cancer care is still very
dependent on demographics, socioeconomic status, and where in the
U.S. patients receive their care. Currently, the majority of new
patients are first seen in the community setting,1 making community
oncology practices increasingly critical to improved patient care.
Community oncology providers also typically treat a more diverse
patient population, providing the greatest opportunity to impact
cancer care across dimensions, including rural populations.
“Community oncology practices in the United States are the
backbone of oncology care for the vast majority of patients. The
COVID-19 pandemic further heightens the need to help strengthen
that network as it has become imperative that people be treated
closer to home,” said Darryl Sleep, M.D., senior vice president,
Global Medical and chief medical officer, Amgen. “At Amgen, we
believe that cancer patients and those who treat them deserve to
have access to the latest innovations in care no matter where they
live or practice. Together with McKesson, our ultimate goal is to
help community oncologists and their teams have rapid access to the
latest innovations and insights to provide the best care possible
where patients need it most.”
Kirk Kaminsky, president of U.S. Pharmaceutical, McKesson,
shared, “The combined commitment of our organizations to optimize
patient outcomes will change the future of cancer care. We look
forward to working with Amgen and oncology providers to navigate
the inherent complexity in cancer and make novel insights
actionable and accessible at the exact point of need.”
This partnership will be led by OntadaTM, McKesson’s new
oncology technology and insights business. Ontada is focused on
helping life sciences companies like Amgen improve patient outcomes
for cancer care, from early clinical development to drug
commercialization and post-launch activation of insights, as well
as empowering oncology providers at the point of need to deliver
more-informed, more-effective, more-efficient care to their
patients. Through real-world data gathered with Ontada’s
proprietary technology for community oncology practices, such as
those that are part of The US Oncology Network, Ontada has the
real-world knowledge to help push cancer care forward.
“I have been an oncologist for 30 years, and we have never seen
so much innovation, yet so many challenges, as we do today,” said
Michael Seiden, MD, PhD, president, The US Oncology Network. “Being
able to contribute to such robust thought leadership and work with
stakeholders like Ontada and Amgen allow us to really move the
needle and enhance cancer care for the patients we serve in the
community setting.”
Amgen and Ontada will launch various programs over the course of
the partnership and build on projects that have already begun, such
as those focusing on reducing gaps in molecular testing and
understanding treatment patterns in the community setting. For
example, Amgen and McKesson recently conducted real-world research
to better understand patterns of molecular testing in
advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with community
oncologists with plans to publish the findings in early 2021.
Through the strategic partnership, McKesson and Amgen hope to:
- Elevate awareness on molecular testing in order to optimize
care in patients that benefit from targeted therapy;
- Uncover insights on unmet need and treatment outcomes by
enriching data and insight capabilities;
- Leverage real-world evidence to better understand and optimize
the deployment of biosimilars to offer providers and their patients
greater choice of therapies relative to value;
- Co-develop new approaches to deliver immuno-oncology therapies
in the community setting; and
- Optimize therapy sequencing to improve patient outcomes
including supportive care.
About Amgen Oncology
Amgen Oncology is searching for and finding answers to
incredibly complex questions that will advance care and improve
lives for cancer patients and their families. Our research drives
us to understand the disease in the context of the patient's life –
not just their cancer journey – so they can take control of their
lives.
For the last four decades, we have been dedicated to discovering
the firsts that matter in oncology and to finding ways to reduce
the burden of cancer. Building on our heritage, Amgen continues to
advance the largest pipeline in the Company's history, moving with
great speed to advance those innovations for the patients who need
them.
At Amgen, we are driven by our commitment to transform the lives
of cancer patients and keep them at the center of everything we
do.
To learn more about Amgen's innovative pipeline with diverse
modalities and genetically validated targets, please visit
AmgenOncology.com. For more information, follow us on
www.twitter.com/amgenoncology.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for
patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering,
developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human
therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced
human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and
understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages
its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes
and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer
since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading
independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of
patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines
with breakaway potential.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on
www.twitter.com/amgen.
About Ontada
Ontada is an oncology technology and insights business dedicated
to transforming the fight against cancer. Part of McKesson
Corporation, Ontada was founded on the core belief that precise
insights – delivered exactly at the point of need – can save more
patients’ lives. We connect the full patient journey by combining
technologies used by The US Oncology Network and other community
oncology providers with real-world data and research relied on by
all top 15 global life sciences companies. Our work helps
accelerate innovation and power the future of cancer care. For more
information, visit ontada.com or follow @OntadaOncology.
About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps more than
1,380 independent physicians deliver value-based, integrated care
to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent
doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and
resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to
delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices
with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and
the experience, infrastructure and support of McKesson Corporation.
This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on
the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health
of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of
independent practices, everywhere.
About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation is a global leader in healthcare supply
chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and
specialty care, and healthcare information solutions. McKesson
partners with pharmaceutical manufacturers, providers, pharmacies,
governments and other organizations in healthcare to help provide
the right medicines, medical products and healthcare services to
the right patients at the right time, safely and cost-effectively.
United by our ICARE shared principles, our employees work every day
to innovate and deliver opportunities that make our customers and
partners more successful — all for the better health of patients.
McKesson has been named a “Most Admired Company” in the healthcare
wholesaler category by FORTUNE, a “Best Place to Work” by the Human
Rights Campaign Foundation, and a top military-friendly company by
Military Friendly. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com.
_____________________________________ 1 Community Oncology
Alliance
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201204005114/en/
Media Amgen, Thousand Oaks Trish Rowland T 805-447-5631
plange@amgen.com
General and Business Press Ontada Annabelle Baxter, External
Communications T 469.233.3400 annabelle.baxter@mckesson.com
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