Innovations in oncology explode as new treatments gain approval
Minneapolis — Last week was historic in the fight against cancer. Novartis got approval for the first treatment in a revolutionary new class of drugs, shortly after Gilead Sciences spent $11.9bn on a biotech company working in the field. Neither can rest on their laurels. Research in the field is moving so fast that today’s breakthroughs can easily become tomorrow’s has-beens. "I can’t think of any other therapies in oncology that have seen such rapid development," said Rachel Webster, senior director of oncology at Decision Resources Group, a healthcare research and consulting firm in London. "In the coming months and years, with the new therapies that are brought to the market, the best will be the ones that win, not necessarily the first." The novel cell therapies that reprogramme the body’s own immune system to attack tumours are just now coming of age, but their developers are already bracing for challengers. Unlike many traditional drugs, being first isn’t enough. Rival produc...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.