Access & Advocacy

SITC Policy Blog

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to announce the publication of a commentary detailing what is being described as a Crisis in Clinical Research. The clinical research pipeline is critical to ensuring continued development of novel treatments that can offer patients with cancer safe and effective options. Unfortunately, progress has slowed since the COVID-19 pandemic due to uncovered, systemic inefficiencies across critical ...
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This webinar on July 10th examined how cell therapies are being utilized around the globe and in resource limited settings. It featured physicians from India, Mexico, and Egypt to discuss their experience in evaluating cell therapies as a treatment option as well as how they overcame challenges related to manufacturing, access, regulation, and toxicity management. View the webinar for FREE on-demand HERE . #Policy #Webinar
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The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to announce the publication of a comprehensive summary on the Surrogate Endpoints Virtual Summit , which was held on April 5, 2024. Surrogate endpoints have been instrumental for the advancement of immunotherapy, including dozens of approvals for a multitude of modalities across various disease states. These approvals are often facilitated through the use of endpoints that serve as surrogates ...
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Digital pathology is becoming an increasingly important technique for immunotherapy drug development and clinical care. As AI becomes further entrenched across the field of immunotherapy, researchers have begun considering how AI and digital pathology may coexist for enhanced pathologic analyses as well as scientific and clinical decision making. The focus of this webinar on June 20th was to better understand the benefits and caveats of mixing AI ...
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This webinar on June 5th reviewed effective strategies for cancer immunotherapy administration by providing a glance at IO access across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. It featured presentations on different models of access, the challenges related to increasing access to immunotherapy, and explored potential solutions that can be translated into local practice and health care systems around the world. In addition, this webinar ...
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The vision of personalized medicine based on tumor-specific biomarkers comes closer to reality with each new scientific discovery. With the advent of AI, researchers now have a novel and expansive tool that can better analyze large-scale data sets for actionable markers that can fuel immunotherapy development and discovery. This webinar on May 15th helped individuals to learn more about the novel application of AI in immunotherapy target discovery ...
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AI is being investigated for real-time monitoring of patients receiving immunotherapy for immune-related adverse events (irAE). Earlier and more accurate detection of toxicities can vastly improve patient outcomes. The first webinar in our series on May 2nd educated participants on the current application of AI in irAE monitoring and detection, as well as discuss future applications of these technologies across the field. View the webinar for FREE ...
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SITC thanks Policy Committee chair Dr. Ryan Sullivan and many other SITC members for assisting with this year's hill visits. SITC members held over 25 Congressional meetings, including in-person meetings with Dr. Sullivan, on a host of important issues affecting cancer immunotherapy research. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pdf #SITContheHill #Policy
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The Global Access and Impact Committee, in collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, is pleased to launch SITC's first educational program crafted specifically for international audiences, titled " Increasing Access to IO: A Global Webinar Series ". This series will serve as an excellent resource for all stakeholders interested in learning about the application of immunotherapy, as well as the infrastructure and resources ...
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SITC and ACCC have collaborated on a new webinar aimed at providing further details on the Expanding Access to Cellular and Bispecific Therapy Workshop. This webinar featured expert speakers that provided perspective and thoughts on how to further access to these therapies in the community setting. A full recording of the webinar can be found at this LINK. #Webinar #Policy
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SITC has provided full comments on a recently released FDA Draft Guidance: "Potency Assurance for Cellular and Gene Therapy Products". Please find the letter in its entirety HERE . #Policy
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SITC has provided meeting coverage of the March 15th ODAC meeting. The coverage includes an overview of the discussion, including representation of the different stakeholder perspectives on each issue, as well as a summary of all recommendations from ODAC. The coverage can be found in its entirety HERE . #Policy
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SITC has provided a letter to ODAC providing insight into the implications of control arm crossover use within clinical trials. The letter also provides support for the use of Progression Free Survival as a viable surrogate endpoint within clinical trials. Please find the letter in its entirety HERE . #Policy
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Thank you to Dr. Ahmad Tarhini from Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute for partici pating in SITC’s 2024 Capitol Hill Visits. Dr. Tarhini met with Senator Rubio’s and Representative Castor’s offices to advocate for inclusion of SITC’s FY25 appropriations language aimed at improving Immunotherapy resear ch i n early sta ge diseases. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pdf ...
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Thank you to Dr. Nathan Singh from Washington University School of Medicine for participating in SITC’s 2024 Capitol Hill Visits. Dr. Singh met with Senator Hawley ’s and Representative B ush ’s offices to advocate for inclusion of SITC’s FY25 appropriations language aimed at improving Immunotherapy research in early stage diseases. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pd f #SITContheHill ...
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Thank you to Dr. Cecilia Yeung from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for participating in SITC’s 2024 Capitol Hill Visits. Dr. Yeung met with Senator Murray’s, Senator Cantwell’ s and Representative Jayapal ’s offices to advocate for inclusion of SITC’s FY25 appropriations language aimed at improving Immunotherapy research i n early stage diseases. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pd ...
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Thank you to Dr. Rimas Orentas from Caring Cross for participating in SITC’s 202 4 Capitol Hill Visits. Dr. Orentas met with Senator Van Hollen's, Senator Cardin's and Representative Trone’s offices to advocate for inclusion of SITC’s FY25 appropriations language aimed at improving Immunotherapy research in early stage diseases. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pdf #SITContheHill ...
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SITC and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are pleased to launch their fourth "SITC-NCI Computational Immuno-oncology Webinar Series" throughout May-December 2024. This year's series will focus specifically on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) across the field of immuno-oncology (IO). Organized by the SITC Big Data and Data Sharing Committee, these nine free-to-attend digital events will help individual research labs to embrace the ...
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Thank you to Dr. Emily Hopewell from Indiana University for participating in SITC’s 2024 Capitol Hill Visits. Dr. Hopewell met with Senator Young ’s and Representative Baird ’s offices to advocate for inclusion of SITC’s FY25 appropriations language aimed at improving Immunotherapy research in early-stage diseases. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pdf #SITContheHill #Policy
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Thank you to Dr. George Weiner from University of Iowa , Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center for pa rticipating in SITC’s 2024 Capitol Hill Visits. Dr. Weiner met with Senator Ernst’s , Senator Grassley’s and Re presentative Nunn’s offices to advocate for inclusion of SITC’s FY25 appropriations language aimed at improving Immunotherapy research in early-stage diseases. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC ...
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SITC Co-Hosts Briefing on “The Promise of Cancer Immunotherapy”

In collaboration with the House Cancer Caucus, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) co-hosted a congressional briefing, “The Promise of Cancer Immunotherapy,” on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in the Rayburn House Office Building. Leading experts discussed various aspects of cancer immunotherapy and the promise that lies ahead with further support from the federal government. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), a co-chairman of the House Cancer Caucus, also delivered remarks.

Panelists included:

  • George J. Weiner, MD – University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Marc S. Ernstoff, MD – Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Michael B. Atkins, MD – Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Crystal L. Mackall, MD – Stanford University
  • Kathryn Bell  –  Cancer Patient Survivor

As always, SITC encourages stakeholders in the field to reach out to members of Congress in support of funding and advancing cancer immunotherapy research.

More details and photos can be found by viewing past tweets and by searching the hashtag, #SITContheHill.



SITC co-hosts a briefing on “The Promise of Cancer Immunotherapy”

Cancer Immunotherapy Fact Sheets

Transforming Cancer Treatment

Advances in cancer treatment have evolved dramatically during the past decade, and continue to change and shape the way oncologists treat patients and train staff. Understanding cancer treatment options can be confusing for patients and their families.

In collaboration with Friends of Cancer Research (Friends), the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) has developed new value fact sheets in a language accessible by both patients and advocates outlining the pathways and unique benefits of immunotherapy compared to other cancer treatments.

Please click on the infographics below to learn more about critical data and basic information regarding cancer immunotherapy.

IO1-v4-72dpi.jpg IO2-v4-72dpi.jpg IO3-v4-72dpi.jpg IO1-v4-72dpi2.jpg

This project is supported, in part, by a grant from Pfizer, Inc./EMD Serono.

Appropriations Report Language

SITC annually drafts report language for consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees to be incorporated into appropriations bills. Incorporation of report language helps advocate for funding of federal agencies supporting cancer immunotherapy research and regulation, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Continue reading below to view past language submitted on behalf of the society to the FDA and NCI.

Policy Comment Letters

SITC volunteers draft and provide comment when federal agencies offer opportunities to discuss relevant efforts that may affect the field of cancer immunotherapy. SITC comment letters ensure that the society provides a voice during consideration of policy changes that may affect cancer immunotherapy research, regulation, or reimbursement. The comment letters include those submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Please continue reading below to view past submitted letters on behalf of the society.

Contact SITC

If you have partnership or policy-related questions, please contact SITC staff at SITCExecOffice@sitcancer.org.

Archive

Read about how SITC has been active in policy and advocacy in recent years: