Cancer Has No Borders

In this episode of Cancer Has No Borders, host Zach Randles-Friedman sits down with Giancarlo Benelli, M.D., BeOne's Senior Vice President and Head of Europe, to explore his journey from surgeon and military service in Italy to leading the organization's growing team in Europe. Giancarlo shares the deeply personal story that first inspired his commitment to patient care — learning to give his mother insulin injections at just five years old — and how that early experience shaped a career dedicated to helping patients. Together, they discuss Europe’s growing role in global oncology, expanding clinical research across more than 30 countries, accelerating access to innovative treatments, and the bold effort to bring life-saving therapies to patients, faster. This conversation is about science, speed, and purpose — and what it truly means to turn hope into action for millions of patients worldwide.In This Episode, We Discuss:Dr. Benelli’s early inspiration: learning to give his mother insulin at age fiveMoving from clinical practice to the pharmaceutical industryWhy BeOne’s mission to put patients first stood outEurope’s rapid growth — from 7 employees in Basel in 2017 to nearly 1,000 todayExpanding clinical trials across 30+ European countriesMarket access challenges and inequities across EuropeThe importance of speed in clinical development and regulatory approvalBuilding and developing high-performing teamsWork-life integration and leading with family-first valuesDefining success: patient access, people development, and scientific excellenceReflecting on the real human impact of oncology innovation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Cancer Has No Borders, host Zach Randles-Friedman welcomes back Dr. Mark Lanasa, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at BeOne Medicines, for an in-depth conversation about the future of cancer drug development.Dr. Lanasa breaks down what makes BeOne’s clinical pipeline stand out in an increasingly crowded solid tumor space—balancing deep scientific focus with broad diversification across targets, modalities, and tumor types. From EGFR and KRAS biology to combination therapies and global clinical trial execution, this episode explores how innovation, urgency, and patient access intersect in modern oncology.The conversation also dives into the growing role of AI in R&D, the importance of internalized clinical development, why clinical trials are essential to advancing care, and what it means to build medicines with a truly global mission. At its core, this episode reinforces a simple truth: cancer has no borders—and neither should innovation.🔬 Inside BeOne’s Oncology PipelineHow BeOne balances focus and diversification in solid tumor developmentKey disease areas: lung, GI, breast, gynecologic, and moreTargeting core cancer drivers like EGFR and KRAS with multiple modalities🩺 From Clinician to Chief Medical OfficerWhy Dr. Lanasa transitioned from treating patients to drug developmentWitnessing the shift from chemotherapy to targeted and immunotherapiesHow working on investigational medicines can impact patients worldwide🌍 Global Access & Clinical TrialsWhy global patient access is central to BeOne’s missionThe critical role of clinical trials in advancing cancer careBuilding diverse, international trial populations for better outcomes🤖 AI, Automation & Speed in R&DHow AI is accelerating protocol design, data analysis, and development timelinesWhere automation helps—and why human judgment still mattersReflections on how dramatically oncology innovation has changed in 20 years🧬 Combination Therapy & Scientific RigorWhy most cancers require combination approachesDesigning smarter trials for multi-drug regimensHow BeOne’s in-portfolio combinations create unique advantages🧪 Discovery, Innovation & What’s NextBeOne’s large-scale discovery engine and rigorous selection processAdvancing first-in-class and best-in-class therapiesHighlights from recent R&D milestones and investigational programs❤️ Patients at the CenterThe sacrifice and courage of patients who join clinical trialsWhy meeting patients remains the most meaningful part of the workReflecting on impact, teamwork, and long-term progress in oncology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode of Cancer Has No Borders, host Zach Randles-Friedman sits down with Pam Traxel, Senior Vice President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) — the nation’s leading advocacy organization for cancer patients.Pam shares her inspiring journey from political campaigns to patient advocacy, revealing how she found her true calling fighting for those impacted by cancer. Together, Zach and Pam explore the urgent challenges facing patients today — from paused clinical trials and insurance barriers to the growing mental health toll of cancer care.They also discuss how advocacy can shape the future of cancer policy, why biomarker testing and early detection could transform survival rates, and how caregivers are often the unsung heroes of the cancer journey.This episode is a moving reminder that while cancer has no borders, neither does the fight for equitable access, innovation, and compassionate care.Visit https://www.fightcancer.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode of The Cancer Has No Borders podcast, host Zach Randles-Friedman sits down with Pat García-González, co-founder and CEO of The Max Foundation, an organization that has transformed global cancer care in more than 80 countries.What began as one family’s response to losing 17-year-old Max to leukemia has grown into a worldwide movement delivering lifesaving treatments, hope, and dignity to more than 100,000 patients across low-resource nations. Pat shares the deeply human story behind the foundation’s creation, the logistical and cultural challenges of providing equitable cancer access, and moving stories of patients and families whose lives have been forever changed.From coordinating medicine delivery to remote islands to breaking the stigma surrounding cancer in underserved regions, Pat reveals how compassion, collaboration, and relentless determination can reshape what’s possible in global oncology.🔗 Learn more about The Max Foundation: themaxfoundation.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Cancer Has No Borders, host Zach Randles-Friedman sits down with Lynn Godfrey, Chief Constituent Experience Officer at Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society). Lynn shares why the 76-year-old organization rebranded, how it’s supporting patients with more than 100 types of blood cancers, and the ambitious goal of extending 1 million years of life for patients.From investing $1.8 billion in research and pioneering breakthroughs like CAR-T therapy, to offering one-on-one patient and caregiver support, Lynn explains how Blood Cancer United is driving global innovation, awareness, and advocacy. You’ll also hear inspiring stories of resilience, the critical role of clinical trials, and why this rebrand is about making support more inclusive, accessible, and impactful than ever.Visit their new website at https://bloodcancerunited.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Cancer Has No Borders, we delve into the stark disparities in cancer care across the European continent—where mortality rates in parts of Eastern Europe are nearly 50% higher than in the West. What’s driving this gap, and more importantly, how can it be closed?Joining us are Caroline Berchet from the OECD and Sebastian Bojkow, Head of Market Access for Sub-region Europe at BeOne. Together, we explore the transformative role of prevention, the promise of policy reform initiatives like the Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA), and the impact of innovation and local partnerships in improving patient outcomes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host, Zach Randles-Friedman, sits down with the General Manager of North America of BeOne Medicines, Matt Shaulis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather Badt, Chief Operation Officer of the Cancer Support Community, joins the Cancer Has No Borders Podcast to talk about her personal story of being a patient and a caregiver at the same time. Heather's husband was diagnosed with cancer and she was diagnosed a week and a half later. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Meghan Gutierrez, CEO of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, for an insightful conversation about the critical work her organization is doing. We discuss the unmet needs in lymphoma research, the importance of clinical trials, and the strides being made to support patients and advance treatment. Discover how the Lymphoma Research Foundation is making a difference—and how you can get involved—by visiting lymphoma.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melika Davis, Senior Vice President & Global Head, Clinical Operations joins the podcast to discuss how our company manages clinical trials internally across the globe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.