Actor and Cancer Survivor Richard Roundtree to Speak at BIO 2005 Media Brunch
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 23, 2005) -- Peabody Award-winning actor and patient advocate Richard Roundtree will speak about his personal experience with breast cancer at the BIO 2005 Media Brunch, “Treating Cancer: New Approaches from Emerging Companies.” The media brunch, which will highlight biotech cancer research, will be held Sunday, June 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, at the start of BIO 2005.
Roundtree was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and since then has been a strong advocate for cancer awareness and men’s health organizations. He was recently awarded the prestigious Jackie Robinson Foundation Award for Excellence for his work in raising cancer awareness. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005 approximately 1,690 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the United States, and approximately 460 men will die from breast cancer in the United States in 2005.
An actor for over 30 years, Roundtree began his career in the role of private detective and super-cop John Shaft in the 1970s feature film, “Shaft.” Roundtree is currently appearing on the ABC series “Desperate Housewives.”
The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 1.4 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2005. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in this country; more than 570,000 patients will die from it this year.
Today, there are 29 biotech drugs on the market for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers, and more are expected in the future.
Small and emerging biotech companies offer some of the most exciting new approaches to cancer treatment and prevention, such as monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapies, gene therapy, vaccines, and small-molecule regulators of cell-signaling pathways. The BIO 2005 media brunch will feature the following experts from small and emerging biotech companies who will discuss what new treatments for cancer may come from biotechnology:
· Carl H. June, M.D., Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, moderator
· Donald L. Drakeman, J.D., Ph.D., Medarex, Inc.
· Steven Friedman, M.D., Incyte Corporation
· John M. Gill, Gentara Corporation
· Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D., Cell Genesys, Inc.
Journalists must be pre-registered for the conference to attend. Register online at http://www.bio.org/events/2005/media/.
Due to limited seating, please RSVP to Lisa Dry, BIO, at 202.962.9231 or ldry@bio.org.
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
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