World Child Cancer shared on LinkedIn:
“Thank you to Amgen for a strategic collaboration built on shared expertise, trust and a commitment to improving care for children with cancer.
Since 2023, our work together has strengthened healthcare teams, improved access to treatment and supported children and families affected by cancer. Behind this progress are people who listen to local colleagues and work with us to understand what children need.
At this year’s SIOP Congress in San Antonio, our joint session, ‘From Transactions to Trust: Building Valued Partnerships for Sustainable Impact’, explored how this works in practice: being open about challenges, bringing different expertise to decisions and adapting as we learn, with children’s needs at the centre.
Particular thanks to Sean Lybrand and Philip Anderson, whose expertise, advocacy and practical support extend far beyond funding.
Sean champions holistic childhood cancer care, including mental health support for children, their families and carers, alongside their medical treatment. He has advocated for savings from participation in Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines to be reinvested in childhood cancer services, helping strengthen local healthcare capacity. By co-authoring our Devex opinion piece on childhood cancer and universal health coverage, he has also made the case for prioritising childhood cancer in health financing discussions.
As a doctor, Philip provides clinical expertise and practical advice on strengthening medicine management, including cold chain systems. Working alongside local colleagues’ knowledge and experience, his contributions help us address challenges in care, strengthen health systems and support healthcare professionals.
Both have visited programmes and spent time with healthcare professionals and families, deepening their understanding of local realities and helping us make better-informed decisions together.
We are also grateful to Jon Hicks, Global Health Director, Access to Healthcare, for his programme management expertise and insight across Amgen’s portfolio. Jon has supported the development of our ‘You’re Not Alone’ podcast, giving healthcare professionals a platform to share experiences and speak openly about the emotional challenges of caring for children with cancer.
This work is made possible by the leadership of Ponda Motsepe-Ditshego, and Paul Burton, who champion more equitable access to healthcare. Leading Amgen’s Inclusive Global Health & Impact team, Ponda is committed to reaching underserved communities and strengthening global health partnerships. As Chief Medical Officer, Paul connects this commitment to Amgen’s wider medical strategy, championing approaches that expand access to care. Both visited Ghana in April, connecting more closely with our work.
To Sean, Philip, Jon, Ponda, Paul and everyone at Amgen: thank you for the commitment you bring to our collaboration, and sharing our ambition to improve care for children with cancer.”
You can also read: How Lewis Hamilton and F1 Helped Raise £275K for Childhood Cancer Research
