Cancer Overview - Lung, Brain, Head and Neck, Thyroid
In 2008, the six tumor types covered in this report are forecast to account for over 666,000 new cases of cancer, obviously representing an enormous market potential. However, it is the higher-incidence tumor types that continue to attract drug developers, with lower-incidence cancers potentially suffering due to unfulfilled unmet needs via a lack of R&D activity.
A low level of interest from drug developers means unmet needs in the SCLC, mesothelioma, primary brain and thyroid cancer markets are likely to remain unfulfilled. Drug developers should realize that despite being low-incidence tumor types, high unmet needs could result in significant financial rewards and a foothold in the market to build upon.
Erbitux (cetuximab; ImClone/Bristol-Myers Squibb/Merck Serono) shows the most promise in the current NSCLC pipeline. Recent clinical trial results mean Erbitux may become a viable option in the first-line treatment of NSCLC, particularly for those patients ineligible for Avastin (bevacizumab; Genentech/Roche) therapy.
Vectibix (panitumumab; Amgen) and zalutumumab (HuMax-EGFR; Genmab/Medarex) show great promise to compete with Erbitux in the head and neck cancer market, particularly due to potential toxicity advantages that fully human monoclonal antibodies may have.
FarmavitaR+ Journal 
