Reality of Universal Cancer Prevention & Cure
BioSpectrum Asia|BioSpectrum Asia Dec 2021
Oncology is the largest pharmaceutical therapeutic area, and big pharma is investing billions of dollars in search of the elusive cancer cure. With all this investment and innovation, will we ever see a universal cancer cure? Let’s find out.
Reality of Universal Cancer Prevention & Cure

Oncology treatment has come a long way since the advent of chemotherapy in the 1940s. There have been tremendous advancements in the field of oncology, especially over the last two decades, resulting in improved quality of life and survival rates. There are more than 1,300 medicines and vaccines in development to tackle cancer, as of January 2021 (source: PhRMA). Many innovative therapies have been launched and pharmaceutical companies continue to invest significantly in oncology research to advance the cancer treatment market.

“Cancer has undergone huge changes in the last five years as new treatments that harness the immune system to restore the balance between cancer cells and healthy cells have been extensively evaluated. Drugs like PD-1/L1 inhibitors have revolutionised the treatment of late-stage melanoma, lung cancer and renal cancer, dramatically improving five-year survival rates,” said Daniel Chancellor, Thought Leadership Director, Informa Pharma Intelligence, UK.

“We also now have genetically modified cell therapies that produce impressive response rates for advanced forms of blood cancer. More generally, cancer populations are being defined not just by the tumor location but by an ever-growing list of biomarkers that have relevance for prognosis and the selection of appropriate targeted therapies. Chemotherapy is still an essential part of cancer treatment, but is increasingly being displaced or supplemented by innovative new cancer drugs,” added Chancellor.

The focus of cancer treatment is rapidly shifting from a traditional one-size-fits-all approach to precision medicine, tailored treatments for individual patients. Let’s look at the next wave of innovations making headlines in the cancer space:

Next wave of innovations

This story is from the BioSpectrum Asia Dec 2021 edition of BioSpectrum Asia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the BioSpectrum Asia Dec 2021 edition of BioSpectrum Asia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BIOSPECTRUM ASIAView All
Ushering Fourth Industrial Revolution in Telangana
BioSpectrum Asia

Ushering Fourth Industrial Revolution in Telangana

Taking advantage of the 21st edition of BioAsia 2024 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) in Madhapur, the Government of Telangana, a southern state in India, leveraged the confluence of the global platform to spearhead initiatives aimed at propelling the state into the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).

time-read
6 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
How Indian Biotech Investments are on a Doubling Spree
BioSpectrum Asia

How Indian Biotech Investments are on a Doubling Spree

A latest report by Ankur Capital provides a closer look at the investments made in biotechnology in the last decade in the country.

time-read
4 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
"AI will be integrally involved in not only the diagnosis of cancer but also in determining the prognosis and best therapeutic option”
BioSpectrum Asia

"AI will be integrally involved in not only the diagnosis of cancer but also in determining the prognosis and best therapeutic option”

South Korea-based Deep Bio, a pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare firm focused on cancer pathology, is making waves in the industry.

time-read
5 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
"Because of its specificity and selectivity, ADCS have the potential to reduce adverse side effects and improve patient survival"
BioSpectrum Asia

"Because of its specificity and selectivity, ADCS have the potential to reduce adverse side effects and improve patient survival"

Japan-headquartered Daiichi Sankyo, the global healthcare company, launched its subsidiary Daiichi Sankyo Singapore Pte. Ltd. to bridge unmet needs in oncology.

time-read
4 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
Can Test, Treat, Track Beat Malaria?
BioSpectrum Asia

Can Test, Treat, Track Beat Malaria?

Malaria has long been a major public health concern in the Asia Pacific region, particularly in South East Asia (SEA) affecting millions of people.

time-read
8 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
Engineering CAR T cell sharpshooters
BioSpectrum Asia

Engineering CAR T cell sharpshooters

Approved CAR T-cell therapies have shown remarkable results in patients with certain types of blood cancers.

time-read
6 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
Addressing Challenges in Cell Therapy Manufacturing
BioSpectrum Asia

Addressing Challenges in Cell Therapy Manufacturing

Even with significant advancements, there are still anumber of issues with cell therapy manufacturing that need to be resolved as production grows.

time-read
2 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
"We anticipate India will adopt decentralised models for managing CGTs, ensuring closer proximity between patients and treatment facilities"
BioSpectrum Asia

"We anticipate India will adopt decentralised models for managing CGTs, ensuring closer proximity between patients and treatment facilities"

Cell and gene therapy (CGT) expert from Germany, Miltenyi Biotec has recently announced its entry into the Indian market to provide researchers, scientists and clinicians easier access to expertise, research, and manufacturing solutions.

time-read
5 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
Addressing Accessibility and Affordability of CELL & GENE THERAPIES
BioSpectrum Asia

Addressing Accessibility and Affordability of CELL & GENE THERAPIES

Cell and gene therapies (CGT) are one of the hottest sectors in the pharmaceutical industry.

time-read
10+ mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia April 2024
Korea designs sweat resistant wearable robot sensor
BioSpectrum Asia

Korea designs sweat resistant wearable robot sensor

New electromyography (EMG) sensor technology that allows the long-term stable control of wearable robots and is not affected by the wearer's sweat and dead skin has gained attention recently.

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024