Heritx Inc

Imagine if we could prevent cancer in people born with genetic mutations such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 for whom today cancer seems almost inevitable?

At HeritX, our vision is a world where prevention - rather than treatment - is the path for eliminating cancer.

At HeritX we not only believe in this possibility, we are working to make it happen.

Being able to prevent cancer will not only transform the lives of millions, it is the gateway long needed to win the war on cancer.

But we cannot do it without your help and the power of the crowd that is available here on Razoo.

Who we are:

HeritX is the only organization worldwide focused solely on preventing inherited cancer, starting with BRCA cancers. We are a nonprofit R&D organization founded by families with inherited BRCA mutations. But more than that, we are lead by a team of medical, drug development and business leaders  who have led the development of more than 100 cancer and orphan disease therapies, including lifesaving breakthroughs. To read more about our team visit: https://heritx.org/leadership/

What we do:

HeritX has one goal:  to prevent inherited cancers. 

We are powered by three core strategies:

- Spark innovation to achieve prevention by convening and exchanging diverse scientific perspectives;
- Find the most promising solutions and propel them with laser focus and the right levels of funding; and
- Apply the best R&D practices, dismissing conventional barriers, to turn ideas into therapies that change patients’ lives as quickly as possible.  

Preventing cancer: Why Now?

Cancer is the leading cause of death in women aged 35 to 54 and in men aged 55 to 84. Even for those who survive cancer, the treatment of cancer – surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation - create lifelong and life compromising consequences. The World Health Organization reports that the cost of responding to the "cancer burden” is skyrocketing. This burden is hurting the economies of affluent countries and beyond the means of developing nations. New cancer cases are predicted to increase by 70% over the next two decades, further exacerbating this challenge.

The rising incidence of cancer will require a greater focus on preventive public health policies.    "We cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem,” said Christopher Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. "More commitment to prevention and early detection is desperately needed in order to complement improved treatments and address the alarming rise in cancer burden globally.”

Billions of dollars are spent on treatment for cancer every year.  Few are directed to prevention. Yet if we are to win the war on cancer, as declared in 1971, then this must change. Only prevention can stop the trauma of cancer, of its treatment and its rapid increase. 

Today we can identify a gene mutation - BRCA - that leads to an up to 87% risk of developing breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate or melanoma cancer.  BRCA cancers devastate entire families, sweeping across genders and generations. We are making advancements in the treatment of these diseases, for some more so than for others.  But at present family members who inherit BRCA mutations must face these cancers. The only “prevention” currently available is surgery to remove the organs most at risk. Yet removing healthy breasts and ovaries to prevent cancer is dramatically life altering in itself and not the solution we want for our children. What we as parents want for our children is ways to prevent cancer that keeps them healthy and whole, ideally a vaccine or a pill as safe as an allergy medication.

The potential to prevent inherited cancers is very real.  Now that we can identify the inherited BRCA gene mutation, we can more strategically dedicate research and development to use this genetic knowledge for creating a prevention for breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and melanoma cancers.

With your help we can be successful.   

Thank you for your interest in supporting HeritX. Please visit us at www.HeritX.org to learn more.