-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [MCP] Did FDA Turn Its Back on Black Men?
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 11:33:16 -0400
From: John Lindsay <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
May 30, 2007
*CONTACT:*
Dhakir S. Warren
Spotlight Communications
617-423-0040
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
*DID THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) TURN ITS BACK ON BLACK
MEN WITH NON-APPROVAL OF FIRST-EVER PROSTATE CANCER VACCINE?*
/Prostate Cancer Patients to Petition on June 4th, 2007, 10:00 a.m.,
at Upper Senate Park, in Washington, DC/
*Boston, MA* (BlackNews.com) - Black men in the United States die
from prostate cancer at a rate 140% higher than men of any other
racial or ethnic group. This is the largest racial disparity for any
type of cancer. On March 29th, 2007 U.S. Congressman Gregory Meeks
(D- NY) introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives
to designate prostate cancer as an epidemic among African American
men, 100 members of the House signed as cosponsors to this
legislation. On this same date Thomas Farrington, founder and
president of the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), a
nonprofit, established to increase prostate health education and
awareness among black men and others who are at high risk for
prostate cancer, presented before an FDA advisory committee that was
considering the approval of the first ever prostate cancer vaccine,
Provenge.
Provenge had completed phase III clinical trials and demonstrated
that it was safe and prolonged life. This treatment was to initially
target men who were late stage terminally ill prostate cancer
patients, whose only option between life and death is chemotherapy.
The beauty of Provenge is that it had shown to be as effective as
chemotherapy treatments without any of its side effects.
During Farrington's testimony before the FDA advisory committee he
stated, "During its deliberations, we also ask that the committee
strongly consider the urgent needs of a segment of the U.S.
population that is suffering from prostate cancer at epidemic
levels. If the entire U.S. population was enduring the same prostate
cancer death rate as black American men, would there not be an all
out urgency to quickly bring to market treatments that could help
reduce suffering and extend life? This critical condition in black
communities today is real, and we are due the same valuation on our
lives and urgency of action. We ask that the committee both
understand and accept that another important reason for approval of
Provenge immediately is because it is needed to help fight the
ravages of an epidemic level condition in a segment of our nation's
population..."
The FDA advisory committee voted overwhelmingly to recommend that
Provenge be approved (17 - 0 that it was safe and 13 - 4 that it
demonstrated substantial efficacy). In an unprecedented and
surprising decision on May 8th, 2007, the FDA did not immediately
approve Provenge but requested more data on its effectiveness that
could delay its availability for years. With this decision the FDA
ignored the pleas of prostate cancer patients and patient advocacy
organizations, including Farrington's own organization PHEN. The
consensus of opinion is that the FDA caved to special interests at
the expense of prostate cancer patients.
As a result of this ruling, Farrington has helped form a patient
advocate initiative called ProvengeNow (www.provengeNow.org
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sdheqacab.0.thbgqacab.dinu5xbab.37771&ts=S0249&p=http://www.provengeNow.org>)
to petition Congress to have the FDA immediately approve Provenge.
"The FDA's decision is inhumane for all prostate cancer patients and
especially for African Americans, and we cannot accept it," says
Farrington.
ProvengeNow has organized an assembly on June 4th, 2007 in
Washington, DC as a part of its petition to Congress. Prostate
cancer patients, family members and friends are asked to join the
assembly at 10:00 am, located at Upper Senate Park (adjacent to the
Russell Senate Office Building). The assembly is being coordinate by
Jan Manarite of "Raise A Voice," member of the ProvengeNow
coalition. For more information email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit
www.Provengenow.org
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sdheqacab.0.uhbgqacab.dinu5xbab.37771&ts=S0249&p=http://www.Provengenow.org>
*About the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN)*
The Prostate Health Education Network, Inc. (PHEN) is a 501 (c) 3
organization. PHEN was founded by Thomas A. Farrington, a prostate
cancer survivor and author of the books, /Battling the Killer
Within/ and /Battling the Killer Within and Winning/. PHEN's mission
is to work toward the elimination of the African American prostate
health disparity. Visit us online at www.prostatehealthed.org
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sdheqacab.0.cu6q97bab.dinu5xbab.37771&ts=S0249&p=http://www.prostatehealthed.org>
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
