'Tis the season for good deeds, and Boehringer Ingelheim employees are doing their part. BI is once again partnering with the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) to bring holiday cheer directly to lung cancer patients.
BI has organized 10 teams of workers from its oncology division and other groups who will visit the homes of lung cancer patients and help with holiday tasks such as hanging outdoor lights, decorating the tree, wrapping gifts and writing greeting cards. It’s the second year for the co-sponsored “Bring Hope Home for the Holidays” campaign.
“We recognize the hardships that some individuals with lung cancer face during the holiday season. That’s why Boehringer Ingelheim is partnering with ALCF on a unique program to give back to the lung cancer community during this special time of year,” Kelli Moran, BI's SVP of specialty care, said in an email interview. “ … We are excited to Bring Hope Home to about 10 cities nationwide to spotlight the unique needs of individuals with lung cancer and celebrate the generous spirit among our Boehringer Ingelheim volunteers who want to make a difference in their lives.”
Bonnie Addario, a lung cancer survivor and the founder of ALCF, understands the personal hardships cancer patients face during the holidays. In fact, she found out she had lung cancer during the holiday season in 2003.
“I was diagnosed with lung cancer during the holidays, and because of this, we have committed to making the season a little brighter for lung cancer patients and their families. The work that Boehringer Ingelheim and their amazing employees do through this program has a profound impact for these patients and their families," she said in a statement.
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Boehringer’s work in lung cancer includes the targeted first-line EGFR drug Gilotrif. Earlier this year, the company added indications to treat first-line, non-small cell lung cancer patients bearing the L861Q, G719X and S768I EGFR mutations. Gilotrif already had an FDA green light in first-line patients with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations.
Competitors in the specific category include AstraZeneca’s Iressa and Roche’s Tarceva, plus newer additions Tagrisso from AstraZeneca and Vizimpro from Pfizer.