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Year after year, cancer research and data releases get the lion’s share of attention at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

However, for this year’s conference in Chicago, Genentech is spotlighting racial health disparities in oncology along with the need for greater investment in health equity.

Following the lead of other health brands, Genentech is utilizing media placements on bus shelters and billboards throughout the Windy City’s South Side to promote the tenets of health equity during the days-long conference.

However, perhaps more importantly, the biotech company sponsored a health equity symposium in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the University of Illinois Cancer Center over the weekend to underscore the need for more equitable access to cancer treatments among underserved patient populations.

The symposium brought together executives from both organizations as well as patient advocacy groups and community leaders to discuss ways to make the healthcare system more trustworthy and accommodating to a wider range of patients.

Sonali Chopra, head of patient advocacy relations at Genentech, told MM+M that tackling health inequities remains a top priority and responsibility for the company.

Oftentimes, these barriers to access are due to obstacles like a lack of transportation options to get to clinical trial sites or compensation for participating in studies that can take them away from work.

“If people are having a hard time getting to a hospital, they’re not going to get the best possible care — whether it’s from a Genentech medicine or any other medicine,” she said.

She stressed that Genentech is committed to addressing racial health disparities and promoting health equity by expanding inclusive research sites and ensuring clinical trials and cancer treatments are more accessible to underrepresented communities. 

Thus far, Genentech has worked with its clinical trial partners to flatten the landscape and bring these studies to patients rather than requiring them to come to their brick-and-mortar locations. The company has also seen greater willingness to participate when stipends are offered to cover transportation and childcare costs.

Chopra added that the initiative’s objective is to bring together industry stakeholders for meaningful dialogue around oncology that leads to action. 

The ultimate success of this effort is ensuring access to diagnostics, screening and clinical trials for all patient populations.

“When we’re thinking about diagnostics and screening and biomarkers, are we thinking about those populations that might have a harder time getting access to those types of tools?” she asked. “Then, when we look at clinical trials, are we actually changing the way that we’re running those clinical trials so that we can attract those patients?”

Genentech is also reinforcing its push to inspire underrepresented youth in biotech. 

Similar to the work conducted through its educational initiative Futurelab+ in South San Francisco in 2022, the company is hosting a career day at Chicago Collegiate Charter School to encourage students to consider a career in medicine.

Onsite will be Genentech employees, including those from the Chicago office, to speak to the students and explain what a career in biotech might look like, all with the aim of showing them that people from different backgrounds can break into the industry.