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?