Group works to get more people of color in clinical drug trials

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Renita Raney has lung cancer. It’s her third cancer fight.”The doctor came in on my last visit with him and said there’s nothing else he can do for me,” Raney said. “That’s Stage 4, and he gave me six months to live. And my reply waws the devil is a lie. I’m not claiming that.”So, she did some research and found a clinical trial at M.D. Anderson in Houston to try out a new cancer drug. She lives a state away in Oklahoma City.”At first, my family tried to help me,” Raney said. “And between the gas going up and a nine-hour drive and they decided my treatment needed to be every three weeks.”The costs are eating up her retirement. Raney said a social worker told her about the Lazarex Cancer Foundation.”That was a godsend,” she said.They reimburse travel expenses – gas, airfare, accommodations – for cancer patients in Food and Drug Administration clinical trials.”Most of our patients travel over 500 miles on way to participate in a clinical trial,” Raney said.Dr. Marya Shegog said Lazarex has already helped thousands of cancer patients, but there isn’t enough diversity.”They may encompass 50-65% of those who get the actual cancer, but they’re only represented if we’re lucky, it’s 55 in the clinical trials,” Shegog said.The FDA says that’s concerning because “people of different ages, races and ethnicities may react differently to certain medical products.” They’re encouraging more people of color to take part in clinical drug trials.That’s where Lazarex comes in.”These drugs often extend a person’s life,” Shegog said. “If they’re not tested in the population that gets it the most often, what data are we missing? What’s the complete story on this drug.”Lazarex will reimburse up to $1,500 a month in travel expenses – not just for the patient, but also for a travel companion. The lower your income, the higher the reimbursement.Raney told KOCO 5 that Lazarex has been a lifesaver.”Everything is stable,” she said. “Shen I first went to them, I even had a hole in my stomach that has healed up. No more pain and I believe I have a couple spots that have shrunk. I don’t mind being a guinea pig. I’m still here.”Lazarex says less than 20% of drugs have data on benefits and side effects, specifically for Black patients.Click here for more information about Lazarex.

Renita Raney has lung cancer. It’s her third cancer fight.

“The doctor came in on my last visit with him and said there’s nothing else he can do for me,” Raney said. “That’s Stage 4, and he gave me six months to live. And my reply waws the devil is a lie. I’m not claiming that.”

So, she did some research and found a clinical trial at M.D. Anderson in Houston to try out a new cancer drug. She lives a state away in Oklahoma City.

“At first, my family tried to help me,” Raney said. “And between the gas going up and a nine-hour drive and they decided my treatment needed to be every three weeks.”

The costs are eating up her retirement. Raney said a social worker told her about the Lazarex Cancer Foundation.

“That was a godsend,” she said.

They reimburse travel expenses – gas, airfare, accommodations – for cancer patients in Food and Drug Administration clinical trials.

“Most of our patients travel over 500 miles on way to participate in a clinical trial,” Raney said.

Dr. Marya Shegog said Lazarex has already helped thousands of cancer patients, but there isn’t enough diversity.

“They may encompass 50-65% of those who get the actual cancer, but they’re only represented if we’re lucky, it’s 55 in the clinical trials,” Shegog said.

The FDA says that’s concerning because “people of different ages, races and ethnicities may react differently to certain medical products.” They’re encouraging more people of color to take part in clinical drug trials.

That’s where Lazarex comes in.

“These drugs often extend a person’s life,” Shegog said. “If they’re not tested in the population that gets it the most often, what data are we missing? What’s the complete story on this drug.”

Lazarex will reimburse up to $1,500 a month in travel expenses – not just for the patient, but also for a travel companion. The lower your income, the higher the reimbursement.

Raney told KOCO 5 that Lazarex has been a lifesaver.

“Everything is stable,” she said. “Shen I first went to them, I even had a hole in my stomach that has healed up. No more pain and I believe I have a couple spots that have shrunk. I don’t mind being a guinea pig. I’m still here.”

Lazarex says less than 20% of drugs have data on benefits and side effects, specifically for Black patients.

Click here for more information about Lazarex.

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ARC was launched to create a network of community clinicians to diversify and bring clinical trials to communities of color and other communities that have been underrepresented.

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