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New Zealand’s drug access means Kiwis with blood cancer have worse survival and outcomes than elsewhere in the world. Coordinating Kiwi-Australian, Professor Judith Trotman, said, “NZ is not funding drugs, with a cascading effect on patient lives, doctors’ morale and drug development. Patients are being lost to their disease and doctors lost to overseas.”

AML World Awareness Day highlights the widespread impact of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a rare and aggressive blood cancer.

Every year, over 900 Australians are diagnosed with AML. Sadly, only 22% of people diagnosed with AML will survive beyond five years. There is a great unmet need for better treatments that increase survival and reduce toxicity for patients.

ALLG researchers are committed to improving patient outcomes through innovative, world-leading clinical trial research that gives access to new and potentially better treatments – helping to save lives.

Mum’s Legacy

AML has a huge impact on patients and their families. AML moves very fast and treatment is often required immediately after diagnosis.

Belinda and her whole family were shocked when her mum, Ania, was diagnosed with AML after a routine blood test. The family couldn’t believe it when she was only given 4 weeks to live due to her diagnosis.

Ania’s initial treatment achieved remission from her AML, but the family knew she could relapse at any time – and were looking for hope. The hope came in the form of an ALLG clinical trial – AMLM26 INTERCEPT.

Ania’s haematologist, ALLG Member Dr Sun Loo, offered her the chance to enrol in the screening pathway for the INTERCEPT trial in case of relapse.

When Ania relapsed just a month later, she was able to access the new INTERCEPT treatment drug quickly. The treatment worked extremely well and Ania enjoyed an extra 4 months of quality life where she felt well with good energy levels.

Watch Ania’s AML Story

ALLG AML Clinical Trials

The only way to make a difference in this rare, aggressive cancer is through clinical trials and research. Clinical trials are the crucial link between a discovery made in the laboratory and a new treatment reaching patients. They are essential to improving medical knowledge, advancing treatments and improving cancer outcomes.

Over a third of ALLG’s clinical trials are in AML, reflecting the need for better treatments and our determination to deliver research that provide better treatments and better lives for people with AML.

Our key AMLM26 INTERCEPT clinical trial is leading the way globally in providing new, targeted AML treatments for patients to prevent relapse and keep them in remission longer. The unique adaptive, precision-based platform INTERCEPT clinical trial enables new treatments to be added to the trial as they emerge, with patients able to rotate between treatment options if their disease progresses.

Read more about the AMLM26 INTERCEPT trial.

Clinical Trials Making a Difference

Ania was a huge believer in clinical trials and research and knew the only way that new, better drugs become available to patients is through clinical trials. During her AML journey, Ania ended up receiving five lines of treatment, including three clinical trials. Altogether, these clinical trials helped Ania to enjoy another 17 months of precious life with her family.

Ania’s family is also passionate about increasing awareness of clinical trials and how they benefit cancer patients and treatments.  As Ania’s daughter Belinda said, “The ALLG gave something really precious to Mum – the INTERCEPT trial gave her the hope she was looking for. She knew that her cancer journey was contributing to science and the future of AML treatments, and her wish was that one day every AML patient would know their cancer could be cured.”

Supporting AML Research

In Ania’s memory, and for all people and families living with AML, we are determined to develop and deliver clinical trials that provide better treatments, better outcomes, better quality of life – and the chance for a cure.

This AML Awareness Day, you can help raise awareness of the benefits of clinical trials and support ALLG’s clinical trial research to deliver better, more effective treatments for AML.

Help make a difference – find out more about how you can support ALLG’s AML research. Or, read more about ALLG’s AML clinical trials.

Together, we can deliver the new, better treatments needed to prolong survival and improve outcomes for people with AML – and provide hope.