The American Cancer Society And Free & Clear Announce Joint Collaboration To Reduce Tobacco Use To Prevent Cancer And Other Chronic Diseases

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 16 Oct 2009 - 16:00 PDT

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The American Cancer Society and Free & Clear tannounced a strategic business collaboration that will combine the legendary brand reach of the world's leading voluntary health organization with the technical strength of the industry leader in tobacco cessation coaching. The collaboration will more efficiently and effectively help tobacco users nationwide access evidence-based tobacco cessation services. The combination of the former American Cancer Society Quitline® with Free & Clear's commercially offered Quit For Life® Program will provide one single best-in-class telephone-based coaching and Web-based learning support service to tobacco users who want to quit.

The two organizations will co-brand and jointly promote tobacco cessation services by offering the Quit For Life Program to tobacco users through employers, health plans and state public health agencies. Under the terms of the collaboration, Free & Clear will apply 25 years of industry leading operational expertise and clinical experience to handle all cessation service delivery, promotional support, account management and reporting. The American Cancer Society will continue to build broad public awareness of the scientific relationship between tobacco use and chronic disease, while also actively promoting the cessation coaching service. During and following the transition, existing American Cancer Society Quitline clients can expect business as usual with no interruptions in service. Together, the two organizations currently serve more than 400 states, employers and health plans, allowing them to help an estimated 500,000 or more tobacco users per year.

"For decades, the American Cancer Society has been leading the fight to reduce tobacco use and limit secondhand smoke exposure," said John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., chief executive officer, American Cancer Society. "And we're so proud that for the past nine years our own Quitline service has allowed us to directly help more than 500,000 smokers try and quit. After an extensive evaluation of our business model and the costs associated with maintaining a leadership position in a competitive marketplace, we recognized that collaborating with the industry leader Free & Clear would enable us to provide even more leadership and maximize resources. Through this collaboration, we can invest more in our complementary efforts to save lives and create a world with more birthdays by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back."

"Together, our two organizations are a formidable force against tobacco use, one of the most prevalent unhealthy behaviors leading to cancer, debilitating chronic disease and early death," said Tim Kilgallon, president and chief executive officer, Free & Clear. "This collaboration enables each organization to focus on what it does exceedingly well: the American Cancer Society fighting tobacco domestically and globally through prevention and awareness, and Free & Clear helping individuals gain the knowledge and skills they need to overcome dependence on tobacco."

In addition to collaborating on cessation services, the two organizations will also work together on new product innovations, international market expansion opportunities, scientific research opportunities and the ongoing development of protocols based on the most current scientific evidence. Thomas J. Glynn, Ph.D., the director of cancer science and trends and international cancer control for the American Cancer Society will join the Free & Clear Scientific Advisory Board to help advance the scientific evidence in support of tobacco cessation.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Free & Clear will make a payment to the American Cancer Society for every enrollee Free & Clear serves.

Source
American Cancer Society
Free & Clear