Australia’s first ‘for-benefit’ pharmaceutical company donating $20,000 to breast cancer medical research
L-R: Dr Barry Frost, Prof Stephen Ackland, Julie Callaghan, John Hurley
For Benefit Medicines (FBM), the nation’s first ‘for-benefit’ pharmaceutical company, donated $20,000 to the Breast Cancer Institute of Australia (BCIA) in Newcastle on Friday, December 9, 2016.
FBM’s sole purpose is to distribute 100 per cent of profits to local patient support and medical research organisations. The organisation’s first generic medications – Anastrozole FBM and Letrozole FBM – for the treatment of breast cancer, are available on prescription from a doctor, and for dispensing through pharmacy.
FBM Directors, Dr Barry Frost and John Hurley were delighted to hand over their first cheque to BCIA, helping researchers move one step closer toward finding a cure for the disease.
“Having launched For Benefit Medicines a year ago, we are extremely excited to be making our first donation to BCIA.
“Given my wife’s experience of a breast cancer scare in the past, it’s great to be able to offer our support to breast cancer research in Australia,” said Dr Frost.
“Our ultimate goal is to help improve the lives of our fellow Australians. The FBM initiative provides an opportunity for doctors, nurses, pharmacists and breast cancer patients to raise millions of dollars for BCIA and the breast cancer patient support organisation, Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), each year. However, for this to become a reality, we need all of these parties to get behind the cause and support FBM,” Dr Frost said.
BCIA is the fundraising department of the Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG) – the largest, independent, oncology clinical trials research group in Australia and New Zealand committed to the treatment, prevention and cure of breast cancer.
True to its mission, FBM has contributed to both patient support and medical research organisations to date. On Wednesday, November 30, 2016, FBM made its first donation of $20,000 to BCNA in Melbourne.
The donation marks FBM’s first ever contribution of funds to BCIA since the for-benefit organisation’s launch on December 1, 2015.
“We hope to continue to raise funds through FBM for breast cancer research in Australia, with our ultimate aim of supporting efforts toward finding a cure,” said Dr Frost.
"Any patient who is currently using letrozole or anastrozole can help by asking their doctor if there is an FBM alternative suitable for them.
"Doctors can also help by offering an FBM alternative to appropriate patients," Dr Frost said.
To learn more about FBM, head to www.forbenefitmedicines.com.au or call 1300 656 256.