PHILADELPHIA (January 31, 2025) — Parth A. Desai, MBBS, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, was recently awarded the 2024 Innovation Award by Ride Hard Breathe Easy, which helps raise awareness and funds for patients being treated for lung cancer.
The award is presented annually to a researcher at a partner hospital to fund a project that aligns with the organization’s mission and provides support for lung cancer patients. Those presented with the award receive $50,000 to develop their projects.
“My colleagues and I are extremely privileged to receive this honor. This award means a lot because it will help us address disparities that we think will develop related to new developments in treatment for small-cell lung cancer,” said Desai.
He received the award for his work among patients being treated with the recently approved small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) drug tarlatamab-dlle, which is also known by its brand name, Imdelltra. According to Desai, early data for this drug showed an impressive overall response rate of 40% and median overall survival of 12 months.
While the drug is effective, it has unique side effects, including a range of neurological symptoms and cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which causes exaggerated immune response. Once the drug is administered, patients require monitoring, presenting potential financial and logistical barriers for underserved populations.
“Many of our patients come from far distances and overnight lodging is not always covered by insurance. Our goal is to reduce those barriers. While the Food and Drug Administration mandates monitoring for these patients 24 to 48 hours after receiving treatment, it does not specify that patients must be admitted to a hospital for this monitoring,” said Desai.
“We’re aiming to cover 24- to 48-hour hotel accommodations near Temple University Hospital’s campus for the patient and caregiver for the first few doses, because that’s when incidence of side effects is high. Additionally, we are looking to provide treatment discharge monitoring kits, guidance packets, and transportation assistance when needed,” he added.
Kits would include essential items needed for monitoring and early management of signs of CRS such as a thermometer, portable pulse oximeter, snacks, water, sleep mask, electrolyte drinks, and more. The kits would also include educational information regarding management of potential side-effects and emergency phone numbers for on-call services.
Additionally, Desai and colleagues plan to establish a registry of SCLC patients undergoing treatment with tarlatamab-dlle. The registry will collect and profile blood and tissue samples and clinical history from medical charts. Researchers will use this data to develop prospective detailed adverse effect profiles, treatment response, and quality of life/behavioral surveys.
Ride Hard Breathe Easy funds two programs that help provide financial support to underserved communities at partner hospitals. To date, the organization has helped over 2,500 patients who need a ride to an appointment, help with food insecurity, a payment for a utility bill, and more.
“I am very honored to receive this award and look forward to developing new approaches to address these anticipated barriers to care for small-cell lung cancer patients,” said Desai.