January is Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial Awareness Month. In this episode of PancChat, host Alisyn Camerota speaks with Martin D Hynes, III, a chemist who spent much of his career in the pharmaceutical industry, including years with Eli Lilly developing Gemzar, a chemotherapy drug used to treat pancreatic cancer.

In 2021, Marty was diagnosed with stage I pancreatic cancer and found himself on the patient side of clinical trials for the first time. Despite his extensive professional experience, Marty faced significant barriers to enrolling in a clinical trial. He discusses common misconceptions that prevent patients from participating in trials, including fears about receiving placebos and concerns about being a "guinea pig." 

Marty explains that pancreatic cancer clinical trial participants always receive standard-of-care treatment, and he reframes clinical trial participation as a way to be a pioneer in breakthrough treatments. 

This is part one of a two-part conversation about the challenges patients face when seeking to join clinical trials. 

Thank you to our sponsor, Revolution Medicines.

To learn more about pancreatic cancer clinical trials, visit Let’s Win and PanCAN.

Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder