IDEC Pharmaceuticals and GENENTECH to support American Cancer Society Fellowship program; Inaugurated in Honor of Ronald Levy, MD, ACS Research Professor

American Cancer Society
Thursday, 18 January 2001

The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health agency, announced today that IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. and Genentech, Inc. will sponsor a scientific research fellowship program, in honor of Ronald Levy, MD.

Dr. Levy is the Robert K. Summy and Helen K. Summy Professor of Medicine, chief, division of oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, and an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor.

The program, underwritten by both IDEC and Genentech will be funded through a gift given to the American Cancer Society Foundation. It will be managed by the Society, and will award research fellowships in the amount of $50,000 to two post-doctoral students each year for the next five years.

"We applaud IDEC and Genentech for their commitment to funding the work of young cancer researchers," said Harmon J. Eyre, MD, the Society's executive vice president for medical affairs and research. " The dedication of the fellowship to Dr. Levy and his accomplishments is further recognition of the enormous contributions he has made throughout his career to eliminating cancer as a major health problem."

In November, Dr. Levy received the American Cancer Society's Medal of Honor, its most prestigious award, for "his conviction that the body's natural defenses can be used to fight the diseases that attack it; for his search for novel approaches and new technologies to overcome cancer, especially immunologic treatments for lymphoma; for his research to create vaccines against cancer; and for his commitment to mentoring young investigators."

"By naming this research fellowship program in honor of Dr. Levy, we recognize his groundbreaking contribution in monoclonal antibody research for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," said Antonio J. Grillo-Lopez, MD, IDEC's chief medical officer, emeritus.

"Dr Levy is a true pioneer of innovative approaches to the treatment of cancer, especially lymphoma," said Gwen Fyfe, M.D., Genentech's senior director of oncology. "His research has led directly to new therapies that have made a significant impact on the lives of many people with cancer. We are honored to sponsor this research fellowship in Dr. Levy's name and look forward to his continued contributions, and the research of the fellowship recipients, in helping to eradicate cancer."

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org