Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/1099222
t m c » p u l s e | a p r i l 2 0 1 9 9 T drug known as Yervoy that worked even though tumors got larger before they shrank. The company also settled on a different gauge for success—measuring patient survival over time instead of early tumor shrinkage. Clinical trials were complete in 2011 and the drug was approved that year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Most of the people who appear in the film attended the premiere and sprang to their feet when asked to stand, including Allison's current wife and research collaborator, MD Anderson oncologist Padmanee "Pam" Sharma, M.D., Ph.D.; his former wife, Malinda Allison, who was married to him for two decades while he chased his dream of understanding T cells; Sharon Belvin, who received his immu- notherapy treatment in a trial and remains cancer-free to this day; as well as fellow researchers, Bristol- Myers Squibb executives and his college professor. Immunotherapy story is not finished In a Q&A with the audience after the hourlong film, Haney explained his interest in telling this story and finding a standout in the "immuno- oncology revolution" who could lead a documentary. "There was only one person," the director said. "In a world where imaginative work is often thought of as being done by folks like me—filmmakers, poets, painters, sculptors, actors—I wanted to focus on the extraordinary creative work of scientists." Haney also wanted to show that there are compelling characters committed to solving the world's biggest challenges. "Jim and the extraordinary people—a number of whom are here today—have shown us exactly what a team of gifted folks led by an inspiring, empathetic, extraor- dinary leader with a real sense of imaginative purpose can do if they work collaboratively, if they use real facts to form conclusions, if they test, if they share their informa- tion, if they partner with a bigger community. Look what science has done. These problems aren't insurmountable; they just have to be surmounted by thoughtful, purpose- ful people focused on things bigger than themselves." Allison, who is the chair of immunology at MD Anderson and the cancer center's first Nobel lau- reate, said he was overwhelmed to see so many of his years of research compressed into a film. "It was 15 years-plus of being frustrated," he said. "Luckily, there were a lot of people who worked with me and kept the lights on." He also emphasized that the immunotherapy story is not finished. "We've got a lot of work to do to figure out how to bring it to every- body," Allison said. "It's a journey in progress." In a world where imaginative work is often thought of as being done by folks like me—filmmakers, poets, painters, sculptors, actors—I wanted to focus on the extraordinary creative work of scientists. — BILL HANEY Director of "Breakthrough"