PHRMA

SELECTED MEDICINES IN DEVELOPMENT FOR CANCER

Medicines in Development for Cancer 2009

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Brain cancers are among the most difficult cancers to treat.  More than 18,000 Americans are diagnosed with brain cancer each year. Many of these will be high-grade gliomas, a highly invasive form of cancer that sends cancerous cells throughout the brain and spinal cord. A potential weapon against this disease is a radiopharmaceutical containing a synthetic version of a substance derived from scorpions, known as chlorotoxin. The chlorotoxin binds specifically to the tumor cells but not normal cells.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. More than 180,000 new cases are expected in the U.S. each year. A medicine in the pipeline for breast cancer targets the Bcl-2 protein, which appears to contribute to the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy. By reducing the amount of this protein in cancer cells, the medicine may enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women.  More than 148,000 new cases of the disease are expected each year. A novel medicine being developed is a microtubule stabilizer that has shown broad anticancer activity. It is derived as a natural metabolite of a certain bacteria found in soil. It also has potential to overcome multi-drug resistance in cancer cells.

Head and neck cancers comprise cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, sinuses and nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx and lymph nodes in the upper neck area.  According to the National Cancer Institute, these cancers account for approximately 3 to 5 percent of all cancers in the United States and are more common in men and in people over age 50. One potential medicine in development is a first-in-class immunotherapy designed to target specific cancer cells and kill them, then activate the patient’s general immune system to destroy cancer.

Leukemia is a form of cancer in which abnormal white blood cells take over the body’s bone marrow and prevent it from making enough normal blood cells (white, red and platelets), leaving the patient highly susceptible to serious infections, anemia and bleeding episodes. Each year, more than 44,000 Americans are diagnosed with some form of leukemia and more than 21,000 will die. One medicine in development potentially inhibits a certain cell receptor that is mutated in about one-third of all patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as well as other molecular targets thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of AML.    

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. More than 62,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease each year, and nearly 8,000 will die. A potential new medicine targets late-stage metastatic melanoma. The medicine contains a gene encoding an antigen that may be able to alert the immune system to the presence of foreign tissue, inducing a powerful immune response.

Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system – more than 15,000 deaths are expected each year. Some ovarian cancers release excessive quantities of a surface protein, or antigen, called CA125 into the bloodstream. One potential medicine in development, a monoclonal antibody, stimulates the body’s immune system to attack the protein and kill the tumors.

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in men, with more than 28,000 deaths each year. Several vaccines are currently being studied as treatments for cancer. Traditionally vaccines have been used to prevent disease, but the new vaccines attempt to get the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer after it has developed. One potential vaccine has tripled the survival rate of men with
advanced prostate cancer in clinical trials.

Note:  All facts and figures are from the American Cancer Society, except where noted in the text.

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