1. Progress in Cancer Therapy Following Developments in Biopharma
Faculty of Biology
June 2015
Danielle Neufeld & Anna Rabinovich

2. Cancer Treatment Targeted therapies Non-targeted therapies Biopharma
Small molecules
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Small molecule compounds are typically developed for targets that are located inside the cell since such agents enter cells relatively easily by diffusion.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Low cost of production
Limited number of small molecules can be synthesized
Not specific
Cancer cells can develop resistance
Multiple side effects

3. Biopharma
A biopharma, also known as a biopharmaceutical, is a biologic medical product, and refers to any medicinal product manufactured in, extracted from, or semi-synthesized from biological sources.
Hormone therapies
Angiogenesis Inhibitors
Epigenetics
Signal transduction inhibitors
Gene expression modulators
Apoptosis inducers
Immunotherapies
Monoclonal antibodies

4. Monoclonal Antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognize specific molecules on the surface of cancer cells.
Binding of the monoclonal antibody to the target molecule results in the immune destruction of cells that express that target molecule.
Other monoclonal antibodies bind to certain immune cells and help these cells kill cancer cells.
Receptor
Ligand
mAbs
InhibitionReceptor

5. Monoclonal Antibodies
Advantage
Disadvantage
Make the cancer cell more visible to the immune system
Side effects:
Allergic reactions
Flu-like signs
Nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes
Block growth signals
Stop new blood vessels from forming
Deliver radiation to cancer cells
Deliver chemotherapy to cancer cells

6. The Majority of Cancer Drugs in the Pipeline Have the Potential to Be First-in-class

7. Melanoma
The most dangerous form of skin cancer which forms from melanocytes, these cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds).
About 60% of melanomas contain a mutation in the proto-oncogene B-Raf.
More than 30 mutations of the BRAF gene associated with human cancers have been identified.

8. Unsuccessful Melanoma Drugs in Development

9. KEYTRUDA is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the PD-1 receptor and blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2.
Upregulation of PD-1 ligands occurs in some tumors, and signaling through the PD-1 pathway can contribute to inhibition of active T-cell immune surveillance of tumors.

10. KEYTRUDA Clinical Trial Results
Caroline Robert, et al, April 2015
  Improves Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Melanoma 

11. The Biopharmaceutical Pipeline: Evolving Science, Hope for Patients
There are challenges in developing biopharmaceutical cancer drugs.
Today’s pipeline of biopharmaceutical innovation represents an important part of the solution to health care problems facing our nation.
There are challenges in developing cancer medicines.
Adjustment of treatment according to individual needs: personal medicine.
The continued discovery and development of new treatments saves and improves patients’ lives

12. Thank you for listening