DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN CANCER MEDICINE - Innovation in the Biopharmaceutical Industry - page 45

DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN CANCER MEDICINE
KAROL SIKORA
Buckingham School of Medicine, The University of Buckingham
Hunter Street, Buckingham MK18 1EG, UK
[e-mail]
Great strides have been made in the field of cancer medicine towards understanding the fun-
damental biology of cancers. Impressive treatments have emerged, resulting in markedly
prolonged survival for many patients. These advances mean that, within the next 20 years,
cancer could become a chronic disease rather than a death warrant. But that promise
depends on sustained investment in innovation, and on society's willingness to pay for
that innovation.
Realising this promise might be a problem for Europe where investment in medical
science remains low compared to the United States which is driving global innovation in
cancer technology (providing 55% of global funding for cancer although it only has 5% of
the global cancer population) and where innovation is rewarded.
If Europe is to continue to play a leading role in cancer medicine, it needs greater
investment in R&D with an environment that supports and rewards innovation.
Keywords : Cancer medicine; future scenarios; professional reconfiguration; new therapies.
Introduction
The age of the world's population is rising dramatically. This means that the total
burden of cancer also increases, as many patients live longer with considerable co-
morbidity. At the same time, new technology in many areas of medicine is improving
the quality and length of life. Innovations in the following six areas are likely to
have the most impact on cancer:
1. Molecularly targeted drugs with associated sophisticated diagnostic systems to
personalise care.
2. Biosensors to detect, monitor and correct abnormal physiology, and to provide
surrogate measurements of cancer risk.