Biopharmaceuticals Oncology

 News Release - September 5, 2006

NCCN Receives $2 Million Grant from Pfizer

Funding will support innovative cancer research

JENKINTOWN, Pa.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Sept. 5, 2006--The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and Pfizer, Inc., have entered into a collaboration to conduct research on the oral multikinase inhibitor sunitinib (SUTENT), a drug currently approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. SUTENT is being studied in a broad range of solid tumors.

"NCCN's goal is to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of oncology practice. One way this is accomplished is through facilitating research partnerships," said William T. McGivney, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. "This grant from Pfizer supports basic and clinical research designed and carried out by investigators at NCCN member institutions with the overall goal of improving patient survival and quality of life."

The Oncology Research Program (ORP) facilitates all phases of clinical research by identifying clinical investigators and initiating trials at NCCN member institutions. The ORP draws on the expertise of investigators at 20 of the world's leading cancer centers and helps to establish collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

"We are very happy to support this key research in collaboration with NCCN," said Sakina Hoosen, M.D., Team Leader, US Medical Oncology, Pfizer, Inc. "Our goal is not only to advance clinical research, but also to provide the best possible treatment options to improve survival for all patients with cancer."

For more information, please contact Thomas Mitchell or visit www.nccn.org.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 20 of the world's leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN member institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives.

The NCCN member institutions are: City of Hope Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA; Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, Boston, MA; Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Richard J. Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY; Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, Memphis, TN; Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL; UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE; and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.

For more information, visit www.nccn.org.

Source: National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.