Latest news with #cancerresearch
CBC
an hour ago
- General
- CBC
A St. John's man has beat cancer twice, and is biking 200KM to help others in care
Gerry Allen is a two-time survivor of prostate cancer, and has taken part in several Princess Margaret Rides to Conquer Cancer over the years. This year, he's headed back for the two-day, 200-kilometre cycling challenge to help raise money for cancer research. He spoke about the ride on The St. John's Morning Show.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A funding flashpoint, Pfizer's $1B poster and AstraZeneca advertising
This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. Funding cancer research isn't usually a political flashpoint. But as the Trump administration signals its desire to drastically cut the budget of the National Cancer Institute, the American Society of Clinical Oncology is finding itself forced to defend what is usually a bipartisan policy. "If implemented, these cuts would be devastating to the pace and progress of cancer research in America," ASCO CEO Clifford Hudis said in a Friday statement. 'ASCO maintains that federally funded cancer research is the single best investment our country has ever made." ASCO's annual meeting this year provides a convincing example. A large study funded by the NCI found that adding the immunotherapy Tecentriq to a common chemotherapy regimen can halve the risk of disease recurrence or death in patients with a certain form of colon cancer. These data, said one of the researchers involved, will change clinical practice. But they may not have been as easily obtained without the help of the NCI, said Joel Saltzman, vice chair of regional oncology at the Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Center, in a press conference held for reporters. 'This was a study that took five years to accrue patients to. It was open at 300 sites,' he said. 'A study like this would just not have been feasible without the federal funding from the National Cancer Institute.' — Ned Pagliarulo On Saturday, doctors and biotechnology executives got a closer look at Pfizer's latest billion-dollar acquisition, a bispecific antibody from China's 3SBio, code-named SSGJ-707, that blocks the proteins PD-1 and VEGF. 3SBio, which licensed Pfizer's rights to SSGJ-707 for $1.25 billion upfront, presented mid-stage study data in a poster session that hinted at the drug's promise in non-small cell lung cancer. The Phase 2 study involved previously untreated people whose tumors express the protein PD-L1. Treatment shrank tumors in about two-thirds of participants given a dose of 10 milligrams infused every three weeks, with lower response rates at doses of 5, 20 and 30 milligrams. Nearly all patients experienced side effects, notably liver enzyme elevations and increased cholesterol. More than half on the 20 and 30 milligram doses had side effects judged to be 'severe or medically significant,' while on lower doses only about 1 in 4 did. Researchers, led by Lin Wu of Hunan Cancer Hospital in China, wrote that the data 'support further evaluation' of the 10 milligram dose. Four trials are listed as underway at with a fifth planned. The 3SBio data came a day after Summit Pharmaceuticals and Akeso released Phase 3 data from their PD-1/VEGF combination treatment, now one of the most closely watched drugs in all of oncology. — Jonathan Gardner Walk around Chicago this weekend and you're likely to see an ad for AstraZeneca's cancer research, often emblazoned on the sides of bus stops. Take an Uber to McCormick Place, the convention center that houses ASCO for five days, and you might be reminded by an ad on the app that it's been 10 years since the initial approval of Tagrisso, which now ranks among the top 20 most lucrative pharmaceutical products by sales. All pharma companies advertise at ASCO, of course, but AstraZeneca has a lot of talk about this year. For the seventh year in a row, the maker of Tagrisso, Imfinzi and Enhertu has trial data highlighted in the ASCO plenary session — an occasion AstraZeneca executives are marking with a pin that weaves the number '7' between the 'A' and 'Z' of their company's logo. Data from one such highlighted study indicate that an AstraZeneca drug called camizestrant could be swapped in for so-called aromatase inhibitors as part of an initial treatment regimen for the most common form of advanced breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors, one AstraZeneca bus stop ad reminds possibly confused Chicagoans, were state of the art in the 1990s. 'Then again, so were videotapes,' it adds. Camizestrant is not yet approved, but AstraZeneca expects it will eventually become a major product. Its importance is reflected in its name: the 'cami' root is a nod to the British drugmaker's Cambridge laboratories, where camizestrant originated. — Ned Pagliarulo Haydar Frangoul, a pediatric hematologist and oncologist, is used to presenting at medical meetings. But ASCO isn't the usual forum for Frangoul, who played a major role in testing the CRISPR gene editing treatment Casgevy for sickle cell disease. 'I was shocked they wanted to hear about sickle cell at ASCO,' Frangoul said Saturday, opening a joint session on gene therapy held by ASCO and the American Association of Cancer Research. Frangoul walked the assembled cancer doctors and researchers through the study that supported Casgevy's U.S. approval in December 2023. Jimi Olaghere, a patient in that study, described his life before treatment, and how Casgevy has changed it. Their reflections spotlighted what gene therapy can accomplish, even as the field falters amid waning investor interest, dried-up funding and persistent safety concerns. It's an important reminder even in oncology, which is perhaps not as often associated with gene therapy as rare diseases like sickle cell. Kymriah, a CAR-T cell treatment for leukemia, was the first therapy based on gene transfer technology to be cleared by the FDA. Five other CAR-Ts have been approved since, as have several other T cell-based medicines. More are likely coming, too. The session closed with a presentation from Katy Revzani, head of the MD Anderson Cancer Center's cell therapy institute, about her hospital's research exploring NK cell therapy, which she said could be safer and easier to produce off of the shelf. — Ned Pagliarulo Recommended Reading Pfizer buys into PD-1/VEGF competition with 3SBio deal
Bloomberg
21 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Pill Slows Disease by Over Six Months
AstraZeneca Plc 's experimental breast cancer pill delayed disease progression by over six months, according to data from a new study that is likely to capture investors' attention. Camizestrant, in combination with other cancer medicines, helped patients with a specific type of breast cancer to live for a median of 16 months without their cancer progressing, compared with 9.2 months for those taking the current standard treatment.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major discovery about 'invisible' breast tumours that are too small to show up on scans
Thousands of women have been thrown a lifeline thanks to a 'next generation' drug that can destroy breast cancer tumours, months before they even grow. The daily pill, known as camizestrant, stops cancer cells from developing, slowing the spread of the disease and delaying the need for gruelling chemotherapy. Around seven in ten breast cancer patients in the UK have a type of the disease known as HR positive HER-2 negative breast cancer—the most common form. Of these, around 40 per cent can develop an aggressive genetic mutation that makes their outlook incredibly bleak. But the 'transformational' trial found patients given the drug camizestrant saw their risk of the cancer progressing slashed by more than half. It was also the first worldwide study that showed blood tests, rather than scans, can pick up early signs of cancer returning. Doctors first used the test, known as a liquid biopsy, to spot changes in the cancer's DNA—when they found signs of an ESR1 mutation, some patients were given camizestrant, while others stayed on their usual treatment. Experts presenting the findings today at the American Society for Clinical Oncology conference (ASCO) in Chicago, hailed it a 'pivotal moment in breast cancer care' and 'truly fundamental shift in how we approach cancer'. The drug is already being fast-tracked for use in the US and has been sent for approval in the UK. Professor Nicholas Turner, an expert in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who co-led the major trial, said: 'This is a pivotal moment in breast cancer care. 'This proactive approach also redefines how we think about drug resistance in this type of breast cancer. 'This is a potential new treatment strategy in oncology to treat developing resistance before it causes disease progression.' Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, added: 'The results represent more than a clinical milestone—they represent a transformational shift in how we approach precision medicine. 'It is very exciting to see this technology being used to delay disease progression in patients and extend the benefits of treatment in patients with this type of advanced breast cancer and delay the need for chemotherapy for as long as possible. 'These breakthroughs are helping shape personalised breast cancer treatment, allowing doctors to adjust therapies earlier and improve patient outcomes.' In the trial, 3,325 patients HR positive HER-2 negative advanced breast cancer from 23 countries were screened for ESR1 mutations using a liquid biopsy every eight to 12 weeks. Of these, 315 women who tested positive for an ESR1 mutation were given either AstraZeneca's camizestrant and a medicine known as a CDK4/6 inhibitor or another hormone therapy as well as a CDK4/6 inhibitor. Researchers found those on the camizestrant combination slashed their risk of death or the cancer progressing by 56 per cent. The drug also kept the cancer at bay for 16 months on average compared to 9.2 months on standard treatment. Just one per cent of patients stopped taking the drug over side effects. Presenting the findings at ASCO, Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of oncology at AstraZeneca said the drug had now been given 'breakthrough therapy designation' by the Food and Drugs Administration in the US, helping to speed up regulatory review. 'We are having ongoing discussions with regulatory authorities including the UK', added. Dave Fredickson, AstraZeneca's executive vice president of oncology business unit, also said the drug demonstrated a 'truly fundamental shift in how we approach cancer care. 'We're moving away from a one size fits all era and targeting cancer early.' Meanwhile, Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment. 'By tracking tiny traces of tumour DNA in the blood, researchers were able to spot early signs of treatment resistance and switch therapies before cancer had a chance to grow. 'It shows how circulating tumour DNA—or ctDNA—could help doctors make smarter, more timely treatment decisions. 'This approach could become an important part of how we personalise care for people with advanced breast cancer.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre hosts charity cricket match, raises upwards of $1M
More than 400 cricketers and celebrities gathered Saturday in Mississauga at the inaugural Cricket to Conquer Cancer event to raise funds for the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre's research. Canadian artist Jully Black was one of the celebrity ambassadors attending the fundraiser and said the event feels "personal" to her. "Cancer has run through my family," she told CBC Toronto on Saturday. "Unfortunately, I lost my mom seven years ago to pancreatic cancer." The Canadian Cancer Society says that two in five Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. When Black was 27 years old, she found a lump in her right breast. She said doctors at the time told her she was too young for a mammogram. She said her doctor had to advocate for her to do all the tests, but that luckily it was just a false alarm. "Early detection is key," she said. "We need the research, but we also need the education and the early detection." Barbados-born professional cricketer Carlos Brathwaite said the fundraising event brings together two things that are close to his heart: cancer and cricket. Brathwaite said his mother battled cancer in Barbados while he was starting his professional career overseas. "I know how difficult it is for friends, for families who can't be there with loved ones," Brathwaite told CBC Toronto on Saturday. He said he also wants to bring awareness to the importance of cancer research and how that helped his mother beat cancer. "When she told me she had cancer, I thought it was a death sentence. And really and truly, because of the research, that means that cancer is not a death sentence," Brathwaite said. "Although she hasn't been treated here, there's a lot of research that has been done by Princess Margaret and that's been disseminated to many other hospitals and cancer centres around the world." Brathwaite said he flew in from Barbados to be one of the event's celebrity ambassadors, alongside Black. Other celebrity ambassadors included Canadian former professional basketball player Jamaal Magloire and Canadian former professional soccer player Dwayne De Rosario. The top fundraising teams had the opportunity to draft the celebrity players onto their teams through a celebrity draft on Friday. The president and CEO of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation said it feels inspiring to launch an inaugural cricket event for the hospital. "Cricket is Canada's fastest growing sport," Miyo Yamashita told CBC Toronto on Saturday. "It's also a sport that is followed hugely by a growing number of Canadians, particularly the Southeast Asian community and the Caribbean community, and those communities have quite unique cancer needs," she said. Yamashita said Southeast Asian Canadians tend to have higher incidences of certain types of cancers, like oral cancers, esophageal cancers, and head and neck cancers. Caribbean men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer and are more likely to die from it, she said. WATCH | Toronto hospital network to expand cancer care, research in new building: Yamashita said all the proceeds raised from Saturday's event will go to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and will support three areas: cancer early detection, innovative treatments, and comprehensive cancer support, which includes support for caregivers and mental health support. "We think those areas together can really help create a world free from the fear of cancer," she said. She said the goal for the event was to raise $500,000, but as of Saturday evening, it had already passed a million dollars.
