Pathway Genomics, the San Diego-based molecular laboratory, has entered into a pact with one of the nation’s best known breast cancer charity programs. The deal with the Susan J. Komen Cancer Foundation includes funding for the organization’s future “Race for the Cure” events in San Diego, Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle. It will also include money to reach medically underserved women in Washington, D.C. That city has the highest death rate from breast cancer in any city in the United States. The financial terms of the deal agreement were not disclosed. “The Susan G. Komen organization does an extraordinary job serving uninsured, low-income, and medically underserved women and men of our communities, and we’re delighted to help as long-term partners in that mission,” said Pathway Genomics Chief Executive Officer Jim Plante. Pathway has worked closely with Komen in the past, hosting a fund-raiser in Southern California for the Dallas-based charity earlier this year. But Pathway, which began heavily promoting the BRCA test to women earlier this year, needs to make inroads into likely users in the midst of rising competition among labs offering a form of the assay. A patent on the basic breast cancer gene, once held by Myriad […]
Pathway Genomics, the San Diego-based molecular laboratory, has entered into a pact with one of the nation’s best known breast cancer charity programs.
The deal with the Susan J. Komen Cancer Foundation includes funding for the organization’s future “Race for the Cure” events in San Diego, Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle. It will also include money to reach medically underserved women in Washington, D.C. That city has the highest death rate from breast cancer in any city in the United States.
The financial terms of the deal agreement were not disclosed.
“The Susan G. Komen organization does an extraordinary job serving uninsured, low-income, and medically underserved women and men of our communities, and we’re delighted to help as long-term partners in that mission,” said Pathway Genomics Chief Executive Officer Jim Plante.
Pathway has worked closely with Komen in the past, hosting a fund-raiser in Southern California for the Dallas-based charity earlier this year. But Pathway, which began heavily promoting the BRCA test to women earlier this year, needs to make inroads into likely users in the midst of rising competition among labs offering a form of the assay. A patent on the basic breast cancer gene, once held by Myriad Genetics, was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court last year.
Meanwhile, Komen has been under financial duress after it decided two years ago to stop making monetary contributions to Planned Parenthood. It quickly reversed that decision after a public backlash, and the executive who had pushed the decision resigned. Nevertheless, Komen suffered a drop-off in donations, prompting it to cancel half of its Race for the Cure events last year.
“Pathway Genomics’ partnership builds on our view that we can help significant numbers of women, and solve important problems in breast cancer, through partnerships,” said Komen Chief Executive Officer Judith A. Salerno, M.D. “Pathway Genomics’ partnership will allow us to reach the most vulnerable women and men in our communities to provide educational programs and help and support for those facing the disease.”
Takeaway: Pathway Genomics is using philanthropy as a potential path for raising the awareness of its BRCA assay.
