Patrick Soon-Shiong, a respected transplant surgeon from the University of California at Los Angeles turned entrepreneur and philanthropist, first became famous for inventing an important cancer drug. His idea involved packaging a tumor-poisoning substance inside the protein albumin, which is one of the main “foods” for cancer growth. The medication, Abraxane, is now used for a wide range of cancers and has been shown in clinical studies to extend patients' lives. During the Obama administration, as covered in the health news site Stat, Soon-Shiong was a sought-after adviser by Vice President Joe Biden for his expertise and influence in cancer research. But soon after Biden announced an ambitious “moonshot” effort to cure cancer, Soon-Shiong announced his own separate effort, to the confusion of the medical community.

Source: Washington Post February 07, 2018 18:37 UTC