While most would agree that everyone should have the same opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer, unfortunately for many, this is not the case. Billions of dollars are being invested into cancer research and treatment development, yet little is being directed toward advancing affordable and equitable care and outcomes.
It is critical that we rightsize and redistribute available funds based on our knowledge of persistent cancer disparities to help more patients benefit from potentially lifesaving innovations and ensure no one is left behind. Every dollar invested in cancer research and product development has the opportunity and responsibility to optimize impact delivered for patients and social outcomes.
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Bridging this impact gap begins by acknowledging previous successes and breakthroughs in the fight to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. From 1991 to 2020, the cancer death rate dropped by 33% resulting in 3.8 million fewer cancer deaths in this window. Factors that have contributed to this successful decline include reduced smoking, chemotherapy following surgery for breast and colon cancer, combination treatments for a number of cancers, prevention and early detection.
Yet too few individuals currently have access to new scientific breakthroughs, and various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic groups continue to face disparities. For example, lung cancer mortality rates were 4.6 times higher among men with 12 or fewer years of education than among men with 4-year college degrees in 2016. Black women have 40% higher breast cancer death rates than White women despite lower incidence rates, a disparity that peaked in 2011 and has since remained largely unchanged.
Equity for cancer care
Following heart disease, cancer is the leading cause of death. So, while we’ve seen success, we are still seeing critical levels of unmet needs across the cancer care continuum. How do we ensure true impact with equity for cancer care rather than over indexing high-cost technologies that only benefit those who can afford and access them?
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Research must continue in basic cancer biology, population health, health services and health systems. As an ecosystem, we must continue to fund this life saving research and invest in companies that are translating insights and discoveries into solutions that can be accessed by patients and providers – especially when they address multiple cancer types and stages. Yet, just as funding levels impact results, so do funding priorities. In fact, because of inflation and tightening budgets, it is even more important to be selective in investments as there is an increased responsibility for remaining dollars.
While federal funding levels for cancer research have been stagnant for nearly a decade, the National Cancer Institute reports they will be able to fund $1.1 billion less in cancer research in 2023 than they were able to fund in 2003. Because of this, we must identify and invest in actionable and scalable solutions particularly in known areas of unmet need where disparities persist. Driving the greatest impact will require us to refocus funding trends and talent to innovate for long-lasting system-level transformations.
Investing in next-generation technology
Technology is at the heart of innovation to bridge the impact gap. As it continues to grow its influence in health care, technology also serves as a democratizing force. By analyzing data to understand and prioritize gaps in equity, supporting patients across their entire cancer journey and role modeling the future of sustainable cancer care including at-home and alternative sites, technology can then fill in the gaps of patient need. This will drive accountability and engagement in ways never seen before. Focusing on cancer health equity upfront to enable and target scientific discovery, inform early product development, work with entrepreneurial startups across the country and invest blended financial and strategic knowledge capital will create a ripple effect across the next generation of cancer companies.
With an expected total of 609,820 cancer deaths in 2023 in the United States alone, we have a responsibility to bridge the impact gap and infuse health equity into cancer research and development—thereby improving overall health outcomes, reducing cancer disparities and ensuring everyone has a fair and just opportunity to detect, survive and thrive through product design.
To best bridge this impact gap, we must all work together to identify the areas of greatest need, advocate for investments that solve simultaneous problems and inspire stakeholders across our ecosystem to make way for novel approaches and deepen impact of emerging technologies. We invite others to join us in scaling impact for more patients and creating a more sustainable and just cancer care future.
Rewarding social impact and sustainability alongside scientific progress and profitability will ensure our ecosystem delivers on the promise to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
Photo: PeterPencil, Getty Images
Alice Pomponio is managing director of BrightEdge, the American Cancer Society's venture capital and impact investment arm. BrightEdge invests in for-profit companies developing therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices and technologies to eradicate cancer. It invests alongside top-tier life sciences and healthcare investors with a goal of generating financial returns and patient impact.
