Disruptive Innovation in
Cancer Care:
What could be coming our way
“There is nothing more important to me as
a physician than your cancer treatment.
I’ve been in practice for nearly two decades
and have had the privilege of telling many
patients that there is life beyond cancer.
As president of The Center for Cancer
and Blood Disorders, I want to lead by
example, practicing a firm belief
that all patients should receive the finest medical
care available, with the same concern and
compassion as a cherished
member of the family.”
Ray Page, D.O., Ph.D.
President and Medical Oncologist
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Support services sponsored by:
DECEMBER 2015 PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
Schedule appointments by calling
817-596-0637 or online at
www.thecentertx.com
A “disruptive innovation” is an innovation that creates a
new market and value network and eventually disrupts an
existing market and value network, displacing established
market leaders and alliances.
In recent months I have had the opportunity of re-establishing a research relationship with Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who
is a physician-scientist, inventor and technologist, dedicated
to reinventing healthcare, mobility and media. Worth $13
billion and the richest physician in history, he is one of the
rare people that has the finances, connections, and resources
to make disruptive innovations in cancer care.
Flashback 12 years. Having a PhD in Pharmacology and having a penchant for develo ping new cancer drugs, I was doing
a lot of collaborative research at that time developing lipid/
protein-based chemotherapy drug delivery systems. Patrick
Soon-Shiong, had just invented such a drug delivery system,
called nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane). He came to me seeking a
small number of oncology practices that could rapidly do the
studies to find the right dose for Abraxane. And we did just
that….
Abraxane is now a blockbuster drug used to effectively treat
a variety of cancers including breast, ovarian, lung, pancreatic,
and head & neck cancers. I got scientific publications, while
Dr. Soon-Shiong got billions. That’s life!
Fast forward to today. Just 3 months ago, in order to continue to advance cancer care in the current healthcare and
legislative environment, our practice developed a “national
super-group” of similar community oncology practices, now
called the Quality Cancer Care Alliance (QCCA). We are strong
in clinical trials, business development, and improving patient
care models.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has simultaneously developed a
robust network of companies called NantWorks that has the
capacity for “disruptive innovation” in improving cancer care.
I went to Los Angeles and met with Patrick and NantWorks for a couple of days on behalf of our new “national
supergroup”, QCCA. It was an amazing meeting to develop
collaboration.
Basically, behind a nondescript building in L.A., Patrick is
expanding a world class-facility of cancer research, technology, data, and patient care. This place is unlike anything I have
ever seen. With all the technology, I felt like I was in an elaborate futuristic villain’s lair as seen in any of the James Bond or
other similar movies.
What Dr. Soon- Shiong does not have is a national sophisticated comprehensive cancer care delivery system. That is
what our group in QCCA has to offer in collaboration. We are
currently writing the “QUILT” protocols, which will be a completely “disruptive innovation” in the clinical trial paradigm
by getting more cancer patients access to targeted cancer
therapies that are more likely to be effective.
With any “disruptive innovations” there are strong and
vocal skeptics and naysayers. Yet, if done properly with the
patient’s best interest and safety as a prime objective we will
see striking innovation.
To learn more about cancer care issues or to consult
with a physician about a cancer diagnosis, contact us at
817.596.0637.
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