ESAFacts.org

Information for Physicians and Patients

American Society of Clinical Oncology

On October 22, 2007 the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hemotology published ahead of print (official publication date – December 1, 2007) their “2007 Clinical Practice Guideline Update on the Use of Epoetin and Darbepoetin.” You can download this Journal of Clinical Oncology paper here: http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/reprint/JCO.2007.14.3396v1.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) sent a letter on September 28, 2007 to the Secretary of HHS critiquing the National Coverage Decision of CMS. You can download that letter here along with the attached August 30 request to CMS for reconsideration of the NCD: (PDF entitled “ASCO Sept. 28 letter. . .”).

Points to consider when reading the ASCO letter and request:

1. ASCO is an organization of professional oncologists, and many practicing oncologists derive a significant portion of their income from cancer treatment drugs including ESAs.

2. You may wish to read a November 1, 2007 editorial by Dr. Eric G. Campbell in the New England Journal of Medicine entitled “Doctors and Drug Companies—Scrutinizing Influential Relationships” available here: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/18/1796