1. Cancer Companies

2. Companies?  Ultimate goal: CURE CANCER  Pharmaceutical  Biotechnology  Research Centers  A lot of them have “bio” “pharm” “tech” in their names!

3. Pharmaceutical  Development of therapeutics  Cancer treatment methods  Often times – research based  Constant battle with FDA Big names: Genetech, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson

4. Biotechnology  Molecular assay development for detection of cancerous cells  Cancer screening process development  Manufacturing reagents  Aid the research process

5. 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?

6. 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

7. Future?  Battle with FDA will never go away  Public/patients want the ‘cure for cancer’  Big dreams  success?

8. 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?