Oncology Focused Pipeline | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Satraplatin |
Marketing authorization application under review in Europe, Phase 1 and 2 trials underway and planned in several cancer types and combinations |
||
RGB-286638 Broad-spectrum kinase inhibitor |
In pre-clinical testing, expected to enter Phase 1 clinical testing in 2008 |
||
RGB-344064 Selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent |
In pre-clinical testing |
||
Other kinase inhibitors |
Several programs in discovery |
||
Focus on Oncology
Recent statistics show that an estimated six million people worldwide die of cancer annually, with 10 million new cases each year. Older people are more likely to get cancer and, as the population ages, these numbers are expected to grow. In the U.S., cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007 there will be over 1.4 million new cases of cancer diagnosed and nearly 560,000 deaths attributable to cancer in the United States. According to the Annals of Oncology, in Europe, there were an estimated 3.2 million new cases of cancer diagnosed and 1.7 million cancer deaths in 2006.
Many different approaches are used in treating cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, drugs or a combination of these approaches. Drugs used to treat cancer include chemotherapeutics, hormones and immune-based therapies. According to IMS MIDAS estimates, the worldwide sales of anticancer drugs totaled nearly $30 billion in 2005 and are forecast to reach more than $60 billion in 2010.
While many cancer therapies are available today, most of these are only partially effective and often cause serious side effects. Furthermore, the emergence of resistance to drugs is common, rendering them ineffective and resulting in disease progression. Second-line therapies, as well as combination therapies using drugs with different mechanisms-of-action, have led to increased success in treating certain cancers. However, long-term survival remains extremely poor for the majority of patients with cancer.
GPC Biotech seeks to build a portfolio of anticancer drugs to address the large need for new and improved treatments. The Company is moving internal product candidates forward and is also seeking external opportunities.
