Global Survey Reveals People Want More Investment And Faster Access To New Cancer Treatments

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The public is generally satisfied with cancer research progress over the past 20 years. However, they believe it takes too long for new cancer medicines to reach patients and that their countries invest too little in fighting cancer. Most fear that the current economic crisis will slow cancer research progress. This is according to the PACE Cancer Perception Index: A Six-Nation, Public Opinion Survey of Cancer Knowledge and Attitudes, released today in advance of World Cancer Day, which is recognized on February 4, 2013.

This year, World Cancer Day focuses on "dispelling damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer."ⁱ The PACE Cancer Perception Index—commissioned by Lilly Oncology and conducted by GfK, one of the world's leading research companies—studied knowledge and attitudes about cancer treatment and care, the health care system and patient involvement. The survey polled 4,341 individuals, including the general population (3,009), cancer patients (663) and caregivers (669), from August 28 to October 4, 2012. Survey participants were from six countries: the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.^*

Public's Cancer IQ Rising, but Myths Persist
The survey found clear understanding on several key aspects of cancer. A near majority does not think a cancer diagnosis is a death sentence; the U.S. is most optimistic (65 percent strongly disagree or disagree). Indeed, while cancer remains a global health crisis—with more than a 70 percent increase in worldwide incidence and mortality expected between 2008 and 2030ⁱⁱ—many cancers have shifted now from an acute to a more chronic disease, and some cancers now are curable.ⁱⁱⁱ

At the same time, however, significant myths about cancer persist. For example, more than four out of 10 people worldwide believe that cancer is a single disease when in fact it is more than 200 different diseases with many different biologic, genetic and environmental origins.^iv Taking a dim view of the pharmaceutical industry, six in 10 of the respondents believe pharmaceutical companies are more interested in treating cancer than curing it.

"That, too, is a myth," said Newton F. Crenshaw, vice president, Lilly Oncology. "But it points to some big challenges that we have as an industry: to educate people on our motives, what we do and how we work, and also to step up, work as partners with health care payers, policymakers and patients, and demonstrate our value."

Public Recognizes Cancer Progress, but Wants Faster Results
Nearly six in 10 surveyed say that they are satisfied with the progress made in the fight against cancer over the past 20 years. However, in every country but France, a majority or near majority thinks its country invests too little in fighting the disease.

Strong majorities say it takes too long for new cancer medicines to reach patients. In all countries surveyed except Japan, most state that progress in cancer research will be slowed as a result of the poor economy.

"Patients are aware of the magnitude of cancer innovation," said J. Gordon McVie, M.D., senior consultant to the European Institute of Oncology in Milan and founding editor of ecancer.org. "But they're also frustrated that we—the doctors and scientists—are not moving fast enough. And one of the problems is that the clinical trials arena is cluttered with unnecessary obstacles. We have to reform the drug development process."

High Interest in Clinical Trial Participation, Sharing Medical Records
The public expresses willingness to be part of an improved clinical trial and drug development system. For example, more than 70 percent of the general public says that patients need more opportunities to participate in clinical trials. Today, overall clinical trial participation typically does not exceed five percent of cancer patients.^v

Nearly nine in 10 respondents would agree to share medical records for the improvement of cancer research and treatment. Still, sizable minorities report concerns about potential misuse of data.

Why PACE?
PACE (Patient Access to Cancer care Excellence), a Lilly Oncology initiative, commissioned the survey. PACE is an emerging global network of collaborations between industry and other sectors intended to improve public policies that determine the accessibility, speed and value of progress against cancer. The PACE network includes a Global Council of internationally renowned patient advocacy, medical, policy, scientific and health care industry leaders.

According to Crenshaw, "We're seeing progress in cancer medicine and care through countless innovations that add up to sizeable victories for patients. Still, current economic pressures threaten this progress and place our society's larger developments against cancer at risk."

PACE Global Council participant, Nancy Davenport-Ennis agrees. Davenport-Ennis, a cancer survivor and founder and CEO of the National Patient Advocate Foundation and the Patient Advocate Foundation said, "We cannot ignore the fragility of the economic climate against which cancer research is being conducted. To ensure that cancer continues to be a public health priority, we need to better understand what makes cancer treatments valuable and to involve patients more in making those determinations."

PACE Cancer Perception Index Research Methodology^**
The PACE Cancer Perception Index was fielded in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the U.S. National representative samples of the general population ages 18 and over were used for the survey, deploying a random digit dial (RDD) telephone method. The sample comprises approximately 70 percent landline respondents and 30 percent cell phone respondents in each country in order to account for the fact that some households only have cell phones. A total of 3,009 respondents were interviewed, with approximately 500 respondents per country. All interviews were conducted by native language speakers of each country, calling from a central interviewing facility in London, UK. The sampling error is +/-1.9 percentage points for the six-county total sample, and +/- 4.6 to +/- 5.0 percentage points for individual countries.

For the purpose of comparison, cancer patients and cancer patient caregivers were also interviewed. A total of 663 cancer patients and 669 cancer caregivers were interviewed, with approximately 100 from each group per country in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK, and 150 from each group in the U.S. Qualified respondents were selected from online panels and interviewed online. The sample source for these two groups was primarily uSamp for all countries; in Germany, Survey Sampling Inc. (SSI) was also used; and in Japan, three other sample sources – AIP, Toluna and SSI – were also used. The sample frame represents a broad mix of age, cancer type and stage but may not represent the universe of cancer patients or their caregivers.

About PACE
Created by Lilly Oncology as a global collaboration spanning diverse sectors, PACE exists to encourage public policies and health care decisions that speed the development of new medicines, assure cancer treatments respond to the needs and qualities of individual patients, and improve patient access to the most effective cancer medicines. PACE has been launched in six countries—France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States—and is engaging key oncology stakeholders in each: patients, advocacy, payers, policymakers, providers, the public, researchers and politicians. To learn more about PACE and the PACE Cancer Perception Index, please visit www.pacenetworkpreview.com.

About Lilly Oncology
For more than four decades, Lilly Oncology, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, has been dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that improve the care of people living with cancer. Because no two cancer patients are alike, Lilly Oncology is committed to developing novel treatment approaches. To learn more about Lilly's commitment to cancer, please visit www.LillyOncology.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers—through medicines and information—for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.

About GfK
GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, a division of GfK Custom Research North America, specializes in customized public affairs and public opinion polling, media and corporate communications research, and corporate reputation measurement in the U.S. and globally. The division serves as the official polling partner of the Associated Press conducting the AP-GfK Poll (www.ap-gfkpoll.com). To find out more, visit www.gfk.com or follow GfK on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gfk_group

C-LLY

^* Unless otherwise specified, reported percentages refer to the general population surveyed.

^** Percentages not totaling 100%: For tabulation purposes, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages may total slightly higher or lower than 100%.

ⁱ World Cancer Day, "Cancer Myths Get the Facts," http://www.worldcancerday.org. Accessed December 9, 2012.

ⁱⁱ Cancer Research UK, Cancer Stats Key Facts Cancer Worldwide, http://publications.cancerresearchuk.org/downloads/Product/CS_KF_WORLDWIDE.pdf. Accessed January 11, 2013.

ⁱⁱⁱ National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, "The Power of Hope," http://www.canceradvocacy.org/resources/hopeful/. Accessed December 11, 2012.

^iv Cancer Research UK, "Can cancer be prevented?", http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/introducingcancerprevention. Accessed January 11, 2013.

^v American Cancer Society, "Clinical Trials: What You Need to Know," http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/clinicaltrials/whatyouneedtoknowaboutclinicaltrials/clinical-trials-what-you-need-to-know-why-do-we-need-clin-trials. Accessed January 3, 2013.

SOURCE Lilly Oncology