Cancer Companies
Companies? Ultimate goal: CURE CANCER
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Centers
A lot of them have “bio” “pharm” “tech” in their names!
Pharmaceutical Development of therapeutics
Cancer treatment methods Often times – research based Constant battle with FDA
Big names: Genetech, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson
Biotechnology Molecular assay development for detection of
cancerous cells Cancer screening process development Manufacturing reagents
Aid the research process
Cells? Where do they come from?
ATCC most of the time
Is using a cell line actually an accurate way to perform research in lab setting?
Problems? Battle with FDA
Safety High cost
It won’t go down any time soon The new drug for prostate cancer (Medivation) costs
$7,450/month! It’s actually going up!! Provenge costs $93,000 for a course of treatment and
extends life by an average of four months. Yervoy costs $120,000 for three-and-a-half months. (Economist)
Competition So many companies!
Over 100 in JUST North Carolina They need to co-exist in order to maximize benefits
though
Future? Battle with FDA will never go away
Public/patients want the ‘cure for cancer’
Big dreams success?
Discussion points What are your thoughts on government regulation
of therapeutic drugs? Is government regulation impeding the
advancement of cure for cancer? Do pros outweigh the cons?