Ortho Biotech, Inc., in cooperation with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), made a recent significant contribution to the Friends and has pledged ongoing support for the next five years. Ortho Biotech provides the first major corporate support for the Friends, and we hope other corporations will follow their lead. The company's first large contribution to the Friends was in conjunction with the 1997 American Society of Hematology meeting.

Ortho Biotech markets products derived from biotechnology research including an rDNA erythropoietin to treat the anemias associated with cancer chemotherapy, HIV infected, AZT-treated individuals, chronic renal failure predialysis, and as an alternative to blood transfusion in certain elective, non-cardiac, nonvascular surgical procedures.

The Friends are truly grateful to partner with Ortho Biotech in its commitment to innovative medical research.