12. Long-Term Trends
The Federal Government declared its "war on cancer" over 35 years ago. Before long, however, the search for a cure became "privatized" as pharmaceutical companies saw big profits in anti-cancer drugs.
- For almost 50 years (1937-1987) the Federal Government -- acting through the National Cancer Institute or "NCI" -- led the fight to cure cancer, funding over $40 billion of research projects.
Milestones in the History of the National Cancer Institute
1937
NCI Founded
NCI Founded
1950
Chemotherapy becomes prevalent
Chemotherapy becomes prevalent
1971
"War" on Cancer is Declared
"War" on Cancer is Declared
1980s
Biotech "Boom"
and Pioneering
New Anti-cancer Drugs that are
Cell-targeted
Biotech "Boom"
and Pioneering
New Anti-cancer Drugs that are
Cell-targeted
1990s
Beginning of the Human Genome Project
Beginning of the Human Genome Project
- But in the last 20 years the U.S. pharmaceutical industry (working closely with biotech startups) has found new anti-cancer drugs can be highly profitable and has taken over as the dominant funder of research and development or "R&D".