SUMMARY: AZ is using non-branded DTC to educate lung cancer patients about different biomarkers. Why haven’t all the companies that offer lung cancer drugs joined forces to educate a public when only 40% of lung cancer patients get their tumors tested?

Astra Zeneca has taken to social media to educate lung cancer patients on different biomarkers via an unbranded campaign that includes a website. It’s objective is to help lung cancer patients become partners in selecting treatments based on identifiable biomarkers.

The lung cancer market has seen a lot of activity in terms of drugs to fight the disease. Keytruda is the top seller but it seems that almost every major drug company is attacking the disease with drugs that attack specific biomarkers.

AZ’s attempt to educate patients is a great step but I can’t help but wonder why all the drug companies that offer these drugs haven’t banded together to really develop a DTC program that will ensure all patients, and caregivers, are educated when it comes to NSCLC?

Especially missing is any education from the College of American Pathologists. With more money and sponsors, we can educate a public that needs to be educated.

NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 84% of all lung cancer diagnoses.

Statistics provided below for lung cancer include both small cell and NSCLC. This year, an estimated 228,150 adults (116,440 men and 111,710 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung cancer makes up about 13% of all new cancer diagnoses. Black men are about 20% more likely to get lung cancer than white men. Black women are 10% less likely to get cancer when compared with white women.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death for men and women. It is estimated that 142,670 (76,650 men and 66,020 women) deaths from this disease will occur this year.