Merck Announced as 2017 "Simply the Best Award" Honoree at the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation's "Simply the Best" Dinner and Gala

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Nov. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) today announced that Merck is being recognized at the 12th annual "Simply the Best" Dinner and Gala. Merck shows commitment to reducing lung cancer deaths through its continued dedication to research and development of effective treatments.

ALCF is holding the gala at the Fairmont San Francisco November 11. The gala brings together lung cancer survivors, their families, friends, doctors, researchers and supporters for an unforgettable celebration of life and hope.

"Merck's researchers are leaders and passionate about exploring new ways to address lung cancer," said Bonnie J. Addario, founder of the ALCF and a stage 3B lung cancer survivor. "We appreciate and support their dedication to discovering, developing and providing patient focused treatment options for lung cancer patients. The ALCF and Merck share a common goal – to help people live longer, healthier lives."

While the understanding of lung cancer continues to grow, so do the number of people diagnosed with the disease. Each year nearly 225,000 Americans receive a lung cancer diagnosis and more than 160,000 will die of the disease. Eighty percent of those recently diagnosed never smoked, or quit more than a decade ago.  The ALCF's goal is turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by the year 2023.

"Merck is grateful for all of ALCF's work to help patients and their families navigate their individual disease and help determine what treatment options are best for their specific cancer mutation," said Jill DeSimone, senior vice president, U.S. commercial operations, oncology at Merck. "With lung cancer as the leading cancer killer in the U.S. and the world, there is a great need to improve the quality and delivery of patient-centered care to help address the significant challenges of those facing this diagnosis."

ALCF will also recognize the following honorees at the Gala:

• The Dr. Fred Marcus Simply the Best Award: Merck
• Asclepius Award: Il-Jin Kim, M.D., assistant professor and director of applied genomics in the UCSF thoracic oncology program
• A Breath Away From the Cure Award: Karen Kelly, M.D., associate director for clinical research and holds the Jennifer Rene Harmon Tegley and Elizabeth Erica Harmon Endowed Chair in Cancer Clinical Research at the University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center; professor of medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center

For more information about the "Simply the Best" Dinner and Gala visit the website.

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, early detection, education and treatment. The Foundation's goal is to work with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, patients, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change and turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023. The ALCF was established on March 1, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised more than $30 million for lung cancer research and related programs. For more information about the ALCF please visit www.lungcancerfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

SOURCE Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation

Related Links

http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org