US President Barack Obama on Tuesday pledged to undertake a historic push to develop a cure for cancer, tapping Vice-President Joe Biden to lead the effort.

Obama, in the last State of the Union address of his presidency, said the United States must use its spirit of innovation to help tackle the challenge of cancer.

"For the loved ones we've all lost, for the family we can still save, let's make America the country that cures cancer once and for all," Obama said.