According to a report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), biopharmaceutical research companies in the US are testing 981 medicines and vaccines to fight many types of cancer affecting millions of patients worldwide.These potential medicines, which are either in clinical trials or under review by the Food and Drug Administration, include 121 for lung cancer, 117 for lymphoma and 111 for breast cancer. The report states that PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $49.5 billion in 2011 in discovering and developing new medicines.
Examples include a medicine that interferes with the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells by depriving them of the energy provided by glucose, a medicine for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that inhibits cancer cells with a mutation found in about a third of AML sufferers, a therapy that uses nanotechnology to target the delivery of medicines to prostate cancer cells, potentially overcoming some limitations of existing treatments.
John J Castellani, President and Chief Executive Officer, PhRMA said, “Despite amazing strides in the ongoing battle against cancer, the many forms of this disease remain a major public health challenge for patients, their families and healthcare providers. Additionally, cancer is a burden on economies in the US and throughout the world. The ceaseless efforts of biopharma researchers in the US have brought new and improved treatment to patients, providing options that didn’t exist before. This report reflects stories of remarkable science, individual perseverance and an unwavering commitment to patients.”
EP News Bureau — Mumbai