Brussels, October 3, 2022 – The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and Walgreens Boots Alliance are delighted to announce the next phase of their partnership in support of the organisation’s E²RADIatE platform, the only radiation oncology platform in Europe.
The partnership
Over the past decade, WBA has supported EORTC in building and developing the SPECTA platform into the leading pan-European translational research infrastructure.
During the next three years, WBA aims to raise €1.8 million in support of the E²RADIatE platform, aimed at defining optimal radiation oncology treatment strategies and interventions that can become the new standard of care for patients through the performance of clinical trials.
EORTC CEO, Dr Denis Lacombe, commented, “Understanding the optimal use of new technologies for cancer patients is paramount to therapeutic progress. E²RADIatE is the sole platform in Europe embracing the developing field of radiation oncology to deliver evidence for the best use of novel therapeutic options. We could not be prouder to count WBA as our partner.”
Walgreens Boots Alliance Chief Operating Officer – International, Ornella Barra, commented: “Everyone at WBA is proud to continue to support the essential work of the EORTC, including this ground-breaking technology. E²-RADIatE is a platform that collects evidence to address health equity and could reduce health disparities on cancer care. This reflects WBA’s commitment to improve health equity as well as our mission to promote ‘More joyful lives through better health’.”
The programme
Radiotherapy is one of the mainstays of cancer treatment. Approximately 1 in 2 of all cancer patients need radiotherapy at least once in the course of their disease. Most of the time radiotherapy is given at an early stage of the disease, conveying the potential of cure. Improved technologies and their proper use are therefore a critical factor in increasing cure rate and decreasing the probability of radiation-induced toxicity.
The E²-RADIatE platform (a joint scientific collaboration between the EORTC and the European Society of Radiation Oncology, ESTRO) will streamline the efficient collection and linking of clinical information with diagnostic imaging data, radiation imaging and treatment data as well as with health economic data. The platform will also collect patient reported outcomes to address the increased emphasis in patient-centred care and the role of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in evaluating new treatments.
The E²RADIatE platform and downstream clinical research projects aim to make it easier to appropriately document new clinical indications treated with radiotherapy and to monitor the impact of new radiation treatments, techniques and technologies, while new standards of care are developing in parallel.
E²-RADIatE will provide Europe with the means to maintain the capacity of excellence in high-level, science-driven knowledge development, in the best interest of patients. The platform combines the expertise of a knowledgeable network of specialists and the expertise of a solid clinical research infrastructure, embedding the highest level of quality assurance in delivering radiation therapy.
-END-
For media enquiries please contact:
WBA
E: media@wba.com
EORTC
E: communications@eortc.org
Notes to the Editors
About the EORTC
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, which unites clinical cancer research experts, throughout Europe, to define better treatments for cancer patients to prolong survival and improve quality of life. Spanning from translational to large, prospective, multi-centre, phase III clinical trials that evaluate new therapies and treatment strategies as well as patient quality of life, its activities are coordinated from EORTC Headquarters, a unique international clinical research infrastructure, based in Brussels, Belgium.
For further information, please visit the EORTC website: www.eortc.org
About WBA
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of customers and patients every day, with a 170-year heritage of caring for communities.
A trusted, global innovator in retail pharmacy with approximately 13,000 locations across the U.S., Europe and Latin America, WBA plays a critical role in the healthcare ecosystem. The company is reimagining local healthcare and well-being for all as part of its purpose – to create more joyful lives through better health. Through dispensing medicines, improving access to a wide range of health services, providing high quality health and beauty products and offering anytime, anywhere convenience across its digital platforms, WBA is shaping the future of healthcare.
WBA has more than 315,000 team members and a presence in nine countries through its portfolio of consumer brands: Walgreens, Boots, Duane Reade, the No7 Beauty Company, Benavides in Mexico and Ahumada in Chile. Additionally, WBA has a portfolio of healthcare-focused investments located in several countries, including China and the U.S.
The company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. WBA has been recognized for its commitment to operating sustainably: it is an index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and was named to the 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2021.
More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.