Federal Funding and Clinical Trial Sponsorship in Pancreatic Cancer From ۲۰۰۳ to ۲۰۲۲

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest malignancies, with a persistently low five-year survival rate. The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act (RCRA) of ۲۰۱۲ is one example of legislation aimed at accelerating research in highmortality cancers. This study examines long-term trends in federal funding and clinical trial sponsorship for pancreatic cancer over a ۲۰-year period, spanning before and after the RCRA. We conducted a retrospective analysis of National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding data and pancreatic cancer clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov between ۲۰۰۳ and ۲۰۲۲. Linear regression with pre- and post-۲۰۱۳ comparisons evaluated changes over time. NCI support for pancreatic cancer increased ۳.۵-fold – from ۷۸ million in ۲۰۰۳ to ۲۵۰ million in ۲۰۲۲ (inflation-adjusted). The annual growth rate rose from ۷.۴ million per year before ۲۰۱۳ to ۱۲.۲ million per year after ۲۰۱۳. The share of the NCI’s budget allocated to pancreatic cancer also rose from ۰.۹% to ۳.۴%, with no significant shift in slope after ۲۰۱۳ (P = .۹۸). Federally-funded clinical trials declined sharply before ۲۰۱۳, decreasing by ۲.۸% per year, and then stabilized after ۲۰۱۳, with a nonsignificant slope of –۰.۹۵% per year (interaction P = .۰۶). Meanwhile, industry-sponsored trials grew substantially, increasing from ۳۰% to nearly ۷۵%, increasing by ۲.۰% per year after ۲۰۱۳. Findings were consistent in logistic regression models. These findings suggest that while federal investment in pancreatic cancer research has grown, the expansion of clinical trials has been driven largely by industry, suggesting that federal investment has likely been directed toward foundational and preclinical research. Strengthening public-private collaboration and maintaining federal engagement will be critical to ensuring that research advances align with patient-centered goals.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cancer ، Funding ، Policy ، Pancreatic Cancer ، Clinical trials ، USA