Looking ahead: 8th Conference of the Parties (COP8)

As an observer to the COP, UICC will be sending a small delegation to participate in the discussions and report back. If you would like to join this delegation, please contact Rosie Tasker (tasker@uicc.org). Unfortunately UICC is not in a position to provide financial assistance to support members to attend the meeting.

Established in 1966, the International Journal of Cancer (IJC) is an official publication of UICC and universally recognised as a leading publication for original papers and review articles covering the full spectrum of topics in clinical and experimental cancer research.

The ISI Journal Citation Report was released in June and UICC is delighted that the impact factor of the IJC has increased from 6.513 to 7.360, placing it in the top 25 out of 222 oncology journals (23/222). The Journal concentrates on fundamental studies that improve understanding of the mechanisms of cancer and that shed new light on effective diagnostic tools and treatments.

WHO has launched a pilot project for prequalifying biotherapeutic products and similar biotherapeutic products (biosimilars) as a step towards making some of the most expensive treatments for cancer more widely available in low- and middle-income countries.

According to Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant Director General, Access to Medicines, Vaccines, Pharmaceuticals,

Biosimilars represent effective cancer treatment options at a more affordable price, but we need to make sure that they are of good quality and safe, which is why prequalification will be a key step to expanding access to these medicines.

To that end, WHO is inviting manufacturers to submit applications for prequalification of two biotherapeutic products listed on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines: rituximab (used principally to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia), and trastuzumab (used to treat breast cancer) and their corresponding similar biotherapeutic products.

We thank each of the 100+ organisations from all geographies have added their voice to the civil society petition, pledging support to the global ambition to elimination cervical cancer.

We will be taking these commitments to the UN General Assembly in September, with the objective of securing Head of State commitments to take urgent action to provide life saving services to their communities.

It’s not too late to add your organisational voice – sign today and encourage your partners to do the same.