GSK found itself with a clear winner for its inaugural “Target the Future Think Tank Challenge,” which benefits the multiple myeloma community. HealthTree Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps patients educate themselves to become their own best advocates, knocked the socks off of the judges with its “HealthTree Equity and Diversity for Multiple Myeloma Program.”
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, GSK was unable to make the final round of judging a live event as it hoped, but the three finalists did present virtually to the team of judges.
The HealthTree Equity and Diversity for Multiple Myeloma Program aims to improve access, education and support for underserved communities and minority patients. By nailing all four criteria for the challenge—understanding treatment options, finding the right care, relieving emotional burden and addressing disparities and inequities and in a sustainable model no less—HealthTree unanimously won the 70,000 pounds sterling (about $100,000) prize and access to GSK mentorship and resources to get the projects up and running.
“It was really the breadth, the depth, the sustainability, and then the ability to complement our strengths, that really made us all say yes,” Tania Small, M.D., vice president, global head of oncology medical affairs and head of R&D diversity, equity and inclusion at GSK, said.
The program has two main targets. For “Black Myeloma Health,” the website BlackMyelomaHealth.org focuses on Black patients with multiple myeloma with video journaling and distribution of new educational materials offering information about treatments and resources. One aspect Small is most excited about in this area is that part of the program focuses on “upskilling” those already in the Black community providing coaching and education.
“It's just such a wraparound service within the community. So over time, if you build that skill, if you build that process, if you build that infrastructure in a community, even when the money starts to run out, it can sustain itself,” said Small.
It will also create distinct communities online for Black patients and caregivers to come together and support each other.
The other focus is on the Hispanic multiple myeloma community with “HealthTree for Mieloma Multiple,” which features, among other things, Spanish-speaking patient navigators and translated forms and brochures.
While this is the first challenge, it is far from the last. Small says the plan is to issue a call for entries multiple times a year, and the next one will come in the second half of 2022.
GSK’s first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate Blenrep for multiple myeloma patients who have already tried four other options, including an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, is a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent. The drug received FDA approval in August of 2020. Blenrep is expected to surpass blockbuster status in the competitive multiple myeloma area.