Cure Brain Cancer connects Australians to glioblastoma treatments
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Cure Brain Cancer Foundation (CBCF), the leading charity for brain cancer research, awareness and advocacy in the region, has announced a partnership with the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR) to bring a revolutionary, first of its kind clinical trial for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) to Australia.
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive and fast-growing form of cancer. GBM AGILE (Glioblastoma Adaptive Global Innovative Learning Environment – NCT03970447) is designed to rapidly evaluate new therapies and connect patients with global research expertise.
GBM is the most common and deadly primary brain cancer in adults. It is highly aggressive and fast-growing, with an average survival rate of 15 months. Currently, only 5% of people with GBM survive 5-years post diagnosis. Standard treatments for GBM patients haven’t changed in over 30 years.
Cure Brain Cancer Foundation’s investment of AUD7.95 million will support the infrastructure build in Australia to allow for patients with glioblastoma to have access to this innovative trial program. It is expected that approximately 50 patients per year will participate in this effort, with infrastructure support from CBCF through the first 3 years.
Whilst traditional clinical trials are slow and take several years to evaluate a single drug, GBM AGILE accelerates the pace at which new treatments are tested for brain cancer, and represents an extremely efficient way to find better treatments for GBM. This trial delivers not just hope, but real action for the 95% of people with GBM who will not survive 5-years post diagnosis.
Cure Brain Cancer Foundation was one of the original seed-funders of GBM AGILE with an AUD1 million contribution in 2013. Now, GBM AGILE is recruiting patients globally, with leadership for GBM AGILE also serving as members of CBCF’s Scientific Advisory Committee. With the recent commitment of funding by CBCF, CBCF will contribute the largest single investment by a foundation with AUD7.95 million in support. This will fund the establishment of trial sites in Australia and enable patients in Australia with GBM to gain access to new potentially beneficial treatments through this adaptive clinical trial program.
“GBM AGILE aligns with our mission to improve survival and quality of life for people living with brain cancer,” said CEO of Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Lance Kawaguchi. “We are thrilled about the opportunity to bring treatments to brain cancer patients faster than ever before. This announcement echoes the persistence of all involved to bring new treatments to patients by partnering with research and industry partners, reflecting what our community has told us they need, and confirms our position as an industry leader for patient-centric research and investment in care.”
Brain cancer survival rates are low and have hardly changed for 30 years, despite significant increases in survival for other types of cancer. For instance, the five-year survival rate of prostate cancer has increased from 60 per cent to over 90 per cent, and breast cancer has increased 72 per cent to over 90 per cent. The survival rate for brain cancer has increased from 21.2 per cent in 1986, to only 22.3 percent today.
“GCAR is delighted to collaborate with CBCF to bring GBM AGILE to Australia,” said Meredith Buxton, CEO of GCAR. “We have been working with the scientific leadership in Australia for many years, with the hope of being able to move this forward, and CBCF’s substantial commitment of support for GBM AGILE will make this a reality. With the involvement of CBCF and the Australian scientific community, we are gratified that patients in Australia will be able to benefit from this innovative program that supports finding the best treatments for patients with GBM.”
GBM AGILE is a continuous learning environment allowing multiple therapies to be evaluated simultaneously and/or over time against a common standard of care control. New experimental treatments are added as new information about promising new treatments is identified while other therapies are removed as they complete their evaluation.
GBM AGILE is a global collaboration, connecting Australia with leading global researchers and scientific experts.
Original content from Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. Note: Content has been edited for style and length.
Nina Alvarez is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel. Her interests include writing, particularly about the healthcare sector and the many ways it can improve to further benefit people from all walks of life.
