TM© THE E-DITOR'S NOTE
[ARCHIVE] VIEWPOINT
This is an archived pick. To find and/or revisit any of our past Viewpoint picks, visit our Archive.
SCIENCE
JULY 2024
Elpís in Health
By Eleni Stamoulakatou
Coming out of the pandemic, Pfizer, a pioneer in the biopharmaceutical industry, is committed to accelerate the next generation of innovative treatments for cancer, as one of the most important medical problems that remain unsolved, despite how much the healthcare community has come to know about the biology of the disease. For this reason, the company has acquired Seagen, a global biotechnology company that is focused on the discovery and development of cancer medicines.
Last month, Albert Bourla, Pfizer CEO, discussed the company's recent lung cancer drug data focusing on the degree to which the lung cancer drug could help the company's fight against lung cancer. With the aid of technology, the announced results seemed pretty impressive as the respective drug appears to cut the risk of disease progression or death by 81% over a period of five years in a rare form of cancer. This makes way for Pfizer to deliver on the promise of breakthrough cancer drugs for patients worldwide.
Lung cancer remains a complex medical issue with causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care varying, and with its treatment including one or a combination of approaches (source: Lung Cancer Treatment, Johns Hopkins Medicine).
How common is lung cancer?
According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, the most common type of cancer amongst men, and the second most common cancer amongst women. Specifically, per statistics presented by the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that lung cancer cases in the US for 2024 are approximately, 234,580 (new cases =116,310 amongst men and 118,270 amongst women) and approximately 125,070 deaths (= 65,790 amongst men and 59,280 amongst women).
Based on Pfizer's LORBRENA® CROWN Study
60% of patients with ALK-positive advanced lung cancer remain alive without disease progression after five years.
What is Pfizer's LORBRENA designed to do?
According to Pfizer’s LORBRENA® CROWN Study, LORBRENA was designed and developed with the purpose to inhibit tumor mutations that drive resistance to other ALK inhibitors and to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. The latter is important considering the fact that approximately 25-40% of people with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC may develop brain metastases within two years from initial diagnosis (source: PubMed).
What is ADC technology?
ADC is a complex immunoconjugate that consists of a monoclonal antibody directed to a tumor antigen and a cytotoxic agent conjugated to the antibody by a molecular linker.
Pfizer is an end-to-end developer of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), allowing the biopharma mogul to conduct novel research and build proprietary platforms with the goal of delivering ADCs to patients with solid tumors and hematologic cancers.
How is Pfizer harnessing the power of data and digital technology in conducting clinical trials?
AI and data technologies are already at the core of Pfizer’s clinical trials and R&D efforts. Pfizer, being world-renowned for its long-standing commitment to healthcare innovation, is using big data and digital technologies (e.g., machine learning and artificial intelligence) to improve understanding of diseases, accelerate drug discovery and development efforts, shorten clinical trial timelines, and by extension, deliver innovative medicines to patients more quickly.
What is invaluable about Pfizer' study, is that is inspires 'elpís' (it means 'hope' in Greek). The idea that one can continue to cherish life with anticipation, knowing that some brilliant and dedicated scientists out there are working tirelessly, with perseverance and dedication and against ruthless timelines to make sure that what would once require a miracle to happen, can now be an attainable and accessible solution for people worldwide. When looking to convey the meaning accurately, no words seem to be able to do this noble act justice. We could perhaps settle with using words like 'priceless' and 'precious' to describe its value, yet none of them can ever truly capture the wonder itself and the appreciation towards those who put all their intellect, time, knowledge and tools, technological and other, to make way for ...'elpís'.
Pfizer is a leading biopharmaceutical company, with a broad and diversified global product portfolio, and a trusted partner in healthcare – discovering, developing, and delivering medical breakthroughs to prevent, treat, and cure some of the world’s most challenging conditions and diseases. Learn more about Pfizer's 175th Anniversary.
To learn more about Pfizer's efforts in the fight against cancer, see Let's Outdo Cancer, Explore Our Cancer (Oncology) Clinical Trials and Pfizer’s LORBRENA® CROWN Study.
To understand how Pfizer is using AI and data technologies to optimize clinical trials, see Harnessing the Power of Data and Digital Technology, Pfizer.
To learn more about ADC technology, see Seagen - Our Technologies.
To learn about the way Pfizer is reimagining the future of cancer, see Pfizer + Seagen.
To learn about Seagen's work in developing cancer treatments, see The Seagen Story: 25 Years Pioneering Targeted Treatments for People with Cancer.
You may also visit the Global Cancer Observatory to see the latest statistics on cancer cases globally, the World Cancer Research Fund International and the American Cancer Society to get a glimpse into lung cancer statistics.
['Elpís/ἐλπῐ́ς' is an ancient Greek word that means expectation, hope. The word derives from the ancient Greek verb elpō, meaning to anticipate, to welcome properly and the expectation of what is certain].