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World-leading pharmaceutical firm Pfizer has announced that it is due to start a total of seven phase III studies this year as part of its ongoing commitment to oncology.
The trials involve three different compounds – stutent, axitinib and CP-751,871 – and focus on four cancer types: hepatocellular, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer.
Pfizer’s oncology research and development (R&D) programme continues to grow, with active studies relating to tumour growth and spread including angiogenesis inhibition, signal transduction inhibition, immunomodulation and cytotoxic potentiation.
Since 2003, Pfizer has increased its number of oncology R&D projects by 400% and now dedicates 22% of its overall budget to oncology. The company has 22 oncology compounds in a total of 232 ongoing or planned, sponsored, oncology clinical studies.
“We are seeing our sustained efforts in oncology mature as our development programmes continue to advance into late-stage clinical trials,” said Dr Charles Baum, vice president of Pfizer Global R&D.
In March this year, Pfizer established the Oncology Business Unit which will bring together global oncology functions including clinical development, sales, medical and marketing, and will have the resources to strengthen Pfizer’s research investment in oncology, a market expected to more than double in the next decade.
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