This article takes stock of the latest clinical development pipelines for cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, and leukemia. We calculated clinical trial data for clinical phase Ⅰ, phase Ⅱ, and phase Ⅲ of cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, and leukemia drugs registered on clinicaltrials.gov. Included in the statistics are trials that are being recruited, recruited, and issued recruitment notices, and do not include trials that have been completed, terminated, unknown, withdrawn, and suspended.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. Since 1983, Cancer Research Institute (CRI) has awarded more than $12 million dollars for cervical cancer and human papillomavirus research. As of September 15, 2018, there were 344 clinical trials of new drugs in the field of cervical cancer, and the second phase of clinical trials dominated -135 trials in phase Ⅰ, 143 trials in phase Ⅱ, and 66 trials in phase Ⅲ (some drugs may be tested simultaneously). Since January 2018, 62 new clinical trials for cervical cancer have been added, of which 25 are in Phase Ⅰ, 29 in Phase Ⅱ, and 8 in Phase Ⅲ. The clinical trials of new drugs for cervical cancer are mainly concentrated in the United States, Asia and Europe. According to the location of the research institution of the clinical trial, the top 5 countries or regions are: 198 in the United States, 39 in France, 38 in China, 25 in Spain and 25 in South Korea. The companies that are leading the majority of clinical trials for cervical cancer are: Merck, Genmab, and Incyte Biosciences International Sàrl. From August 1st to 31st, 2018, there were 12 clinical trials of new drugs for cervical cancer.
New clinical trials in August 2018
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage because it tends not to show symptoms early on. Stage 4 pancreatic cancer means the cancer has spread to other organs, typically the liver or the lungs. As of September 15, 2018, there were 463 clinical trials of new drugs in the field of pancreatic cancer. Early clinical research was dominant-240 trials in phase Ⅰ, 193 trials in phase Ⅱ, and 30 trials in phase Ⅲ. Since January 2018, 95 clinical trials of new drugs for pancreatic cancer have been added, of which 52 in phase Ⅰ, 33 in phase Ⅱ, and 10 in phase Ⅲ. Clinical trials of new drugs for pancreatic cancer have focused on the United States, China and Europe. According to the location of the research institution of the clinical trial, the top 5 countries or regions are: 308 in the United States, 46 in China, 36 in Spain, 33 in France and 32 in Germany. From August 1st to 31st, 2018, there were 15 clinical trials of new drugs for pancreatic cancer.
New clinical trials in August 2018
Leukemia
Leukemia is cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues by a rise in the number of white blood cells in your body, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Most forms of leukemia are treated with pharmaceutical medication, typically combined into a multi-drug chemotherapy regimen. Some are also treated with radiation therapy. As of September 15, 2018, there were 1415 new drug clinical trials in the field of leukemia, and early clinical research dominated-676 trials in phase Ⅰ, 584 trials in phase Ⅱ, and 155 trials in phase Ⅲ. Since January 2018, 246 new clinical trials of leukemia have been added, of which 126 are in phase Ⅰ, 100 in phase Ⅱ, and 20 in phase Ⅲ. The clinical trials of new leukemia drugs have focused on North America and Europe. According to the location of the research institutions of clinical trials, the top 5 countries or regions are: 983 in the United States, 158 in Germany, 135 in Italy, 133 in France and 131 in Canada. From August 1st to 31st, 2018, there were 36 clinical trials of new drugs for leukemia.
New clinical trials in August 2018
Looking to the Future
Part of the challenge in curing cancer is that it isn’t one disease, but hundreds of different diseases. A lot of research needs to be done, and it takes time. But scientists have made great progress. Each of the new targeted drugs discovered will give us more insight into how cancer develops and responds to treatment and increases the chances of a better drug that will cure patients in the future.
References
- Huh, W. K., Ault, K. A., Chelmow, D., Davey, D. D., Goulart, R. A., Garcia, F. A& Schiffman, M. (2015). Use of primary high-risk human papillomavirus testing for cervical cancer screening: interim clinical guidance.
- Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network. (2017). Integrated genomic and molecular characterization of cervical cancer. Nature, 543(7645), 378.
- Hochhaus, A., Saglio, G., Hughes, T. P., Larson, R. A., Kim, D. W., Issaragrisil, S& Flinn, I. W. (2016). Long-term benefits and risks of frontline nilotinib vs imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase: 5-year update of the randomized ENESTnd trial. Leukemia, 30(5), 1044.