In an interview with PharmaShots, Tania Small, Vice President of Global Medical Oncology at GSK shares her views on the launch of Target the Future Program to help address the challenges affecting the multiple myeloma community

Shots:

• The company has launched Target the Future program to educate people in the field of multiple myeloma and address unmet needs in the community
• A grant of $100,000 will be awarded for the best idea submitted to Target the Future Think Tank Challenge. The submission will be judged based on criteria i.e., potential to impact the issue, novelty of the idea, feasibility to execute, and alignment with unmet needs
• The company will identify key issues impacting the myeloma community including understanding treatment options, getting the right care, relieving the emotional burden, addressing disparities and inequities

Tuba: Let’s talk about multiple myeloma. Unmet needs, epidemiology among other details.

Tania Small: Multiple myeloma is the second-most common blood cancer in the United States and the third most common blood cancer worldwide. Despite recent treatment advances and the availability of newer and combination therapies, the disease is generally considered treatable, but not curable. Patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma often stop responding to treatment and need to find another option when this happens.  

Multiple myeloma has a disproportionate impact on Black patients, as it’s the most common form of blood cancer for people of African descent. Addressing disparities is one of our main focus areas for Target the Future, as minorities are often underrepresented in clinical trials and receive fewer benefits from novel therapies. The challenges are multi-fold and this program allows us to come up with relevant and impactful potential solutions to address them.

Tuba: What are some of the key challenges and issues that you are trying to address?

Tania Small: Multiple myeloma patients face challenges affecting many aspects of their lives. Chronic cancers have a physical side and a mental side, magnified by the uncertainty of relapse and remission. Through Target the Future and the Think Tank Challenge, we’re looking to address four key areas –getting to the right care, understanding treatment options, relieving the emotional burden, and addressing disparities and inequities in care.

Tuba: Despite various developments in the treatment options for multiple myeloma, what is GSK developing to treat MM? 

Tania Small: Target the Future is an unbranded initiative, and the primary goal is to drive progress for the multiple myeloma community by identifying challenges, supporting the development of solutions, and providing educational resources.

From a treatment perspective, GSK has developed a therapy for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and we are actively pursuing research into further treatments for this incurable cancer.

Tuba: Tell us about the aim of “Target the Future”. 

Tania Small: Our goal for Target the Future is to educate people on the progress in multiple myeloma treatments, identify key challenges the community faces, and facilitate solutions to help create a better future for patients, their caregivers, and loved ones. We are looking to meet patients where they are and provide them with resources and tools to aide their treatment journeys and other aspects of their lives.

Tuba: Provide some insights about “Target the Future Think Tank Challenge”. 

Tania Small: The Think Tank Challenge is seeking innovative ideas that provide solutions to one or more of the challenges that multiple myeloma patients face. We understand that innovation can come from anyone, so we’re looking to serve as an incubator for ideas from around the world that change multiple myeloma patients’ lives. We envision this to be a friendly contest of ideas – think of a supportive, virtual “Shark Tank” environment! Submission ideas could be ones that address the disparity in access to care or an online tool that provides emotional support. Any type of idea is viable if it can help address an unmet need identified by the multiple myeloma community.

All submissions to the Think Tank Challenge will be reviewed and assessed by our Think Tank Panel, a multidisciplinary advisory group comprised of people personally and professionally connected to the multiple myeloma community.

The program will award a $100,000 grant, as well as mentorship and other GSK resources, to help bring the selected idea to life.

Tuba: What will be the judging criteria for the Think Tank Challenge? 

Tania Small: Submissions will be judged based on adherence to submission criteria and eligibility, relevance to the challenges highlighted, the novelty of the idea, feasibility to execute the idea based on the concept, potential impact on the multiple myeloma community, and considerations of accessibility across socioeconomic groups.

Tuba: How do you think this challenge can impact or better the present scenario? 

Tania Small: Despite recent treatment advances, patients continue to face challenges. We hope engaging the global multiple myeloma stakeholder community and other innovative, like-minded communities will cast a wide net to anyone who may have an idea that can potentially improve the lives of multiple myeloma patients. With the grant and mentorship offered through the Think Tank Challenge, we have a plan in place to advance the concept from idea to reality.

Tuba: Who all are eligible for applying to this program? 

Tania Small: The Think Tank Challenge is accepting submissions from individuals and non-profit organizations worldwide. As our campaign videos say, “You don’t have to be a scientist; you just have to be inspired.” We hope to hear from a range of patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, data scientists, advocates, non-profit organizations, or anyone who may have an idea that can address the challenges that multiple myeloma patients face. We want to help bring the idea to life.

Tuba: Please tell our readers about the application process for this challenge.

Tania Small: To apply to the Think Tank Challenge, visit www.targetthefuturemm.com to download and complete the application. Submissions are open now through March 31, 2022.

Source: Medical News Today

About Author:

Tania Small is the Vice President of Global Medical Oncology at GSK. She has done research in oncology, hematology, gene therapy, and stem cell transplantation, receiving NIH grants for her translational research in gene therapy and regenerative medicine. A board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Small is pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant specialist with deep experience in clinical research and drug development

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