In the Headlines: What if curing diseases was treated like a business?

A 25-year old idea, a concept named “the American Centers for Cures,” proposed by Lou Weisbach, a former CEO of a Fortune 500 company and a political insider, aims to shift the paradigm of research funding. 

In this episode of The Cancer Letter Podcast, Jacquelyn Cobb, associate editor of The Cancer Letter, and Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher, talk about Weisbach’s bold $750 billion bond plan aimed at curing diseases. At a time of NIH upheaval, while funding is in limbo for a great amount of biomedical research—the idea is gaining some momentum. 

“The idea is, the depth of it, is the system that we have in oncology—and this is beyond oncology—were it to be built today, it would look very very different from what it is right now,” Paul said. “Which is true. It’s a system that evolved.”

“What these guys are suggesting is to design something that is more driven to produce outcomes, as opposed to studying the thing,” Paul said.

The scientist’s job would be to cure the disease. And, if they don’t, there is accountability, Jacquelyn said.

“It’s turning the whole process of cancer and biomedical research on its head,” Jacquelyn said. “It’s a lot more like a business,” 

Weisbach wants the federal government to issue $750 billion in bonds over six years to fund the enterprise, and he plans to bring his idea to the White House. 

Stories mentioned this week include:

• As Trump decimates NIH funding, a daring proposal to issue $750 billion in bonds for medical cures garners attention 

• Lou Weisbach tells us about his plan to raise $750 billion for the American Center for Cures

• Mark J. Ratain, David A. Hyman, Jill E. Feldman, Beth R. Jacobson, Allen S. Lichter: Optimizing dosing of expensive and toxic oncology drugs: Making America healthier

• Donald L. "Skip" Trump, Eric T. Rosenthal: Federal funding cutbacks undermine advances in cancer research and treatment

What would Richard Nixon and Ted Kennedy think?

• Linda Malkas: From “undruggable” target to clinical potential: The journey of AOH1996

• “Forward funding” NIH budget plan would make competing for grants much harder

• Federal judge rules Trump directives canceling NIH grants “illegal,” orders them to be restored

• NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya launches a podcast

A transcript of this episode is available at https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20250625-american-center-for-cures/