China Charity Federation will launch a medicine donation and assistance program with the RMB200 million worth of medicine it has received in donations to help lung cancer patients who can't gain further treatment because of economic reasons.

The program was initiated in 2007 with AstraZeneca's donation of IRESSA worth about RMB72.5 million and then delivered to patients through 16 local charity organizations. IRESSA was the first in a new breakthrough class of anti-cancer drugs known as selective Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors.

The donated medicine is said to be available only to applicants who have received at least one chemotherapy session intended for curing tumors, have had at least one clear and measurable focus, have used IRESSA for at least six months, have received a doctor's follow-up visit once every two months and who had no side effect after taking the medicine with the confirmation of the doctor. Liu Guolin, secretary general of CCF, said the program fully embodies the humanitarianism spirit of the public in helping the sick by offering a new chance for lung cancer patients.

China's lung cancer patient number is increasing by up to 500,000 annually, and among them, non-small cell lung cancer patients have accounted for over 85% and two-thirds of the newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer patients are terminal patients. However, many of them can't afford the expensive medicine needed to cure their illness.

Founded in 1994, CCF has raised funds and in-kind donations worth over RMB6 billion and helped millions of poor people in various areas of China.

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