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Will we soon have to be less afraid of a diagnosis?New cancer drugs on the verge of a breakthrough
Every year around 500,000 people in Germany are diagnosed with cancer.
But something is happening in research that is giving patients and families hope. New drugs against particularly aggressive types of tumors could significantly improve the chances of survival. What exactly this means for patients can be seen in the video.
New hope for lung cancer and pancreatic cancer
Just a few years ago, a cancer diagnosis was one with no way out for many people. Today the situation looks different. Researchers are developing new therapies at a pace that amazes even experts. There is now promising progress in two dreaded types of cancer in particular.
Lung tumors are still one of the deadliest forms of cancer in men. The expectations for a new drug from Biontech are all the greater. Initial results suggest that the therapy could slow down the growth of tumors and at the same time strengthen the immune system in the fight against cancer cells.
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A new development in pancreatic cancer is also causing a stir. According to current study data, the drug daraxonrasib is said to significantly extend the survival time of patients. Both active ingredients are already in phase 3 of clinical testing.
When could the new cancer drugs come?
The third study phase is a crucial milestone for cancer doctors. Dr. Christian Müller, head of internal oncology at the Evangelische Kliniken Essen-Mitte, explains that new therapies are compared directly with previous standard treatments.
The participants are randomly distributed into different groups. One receives the previous therapy, the other the new treatment. This is the only way to reliably determine whether a medication actually works better. Phase 3 studies are therefore considered the most important hurdle on the way to approval.
Anyone hoping for a quick breakthrough now needs a little patience. Even if the ongoing studies are successfully completed, the results must first be evaluated, published and examined by the authorities.
According to Dr. Müller, the actual approval usually takes one to two years. In the USA this process often goes a little faster than in Europe.
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Do we now have to be less afraid of cancer?
According to Dr. Müller several reasons. Modern laboratory technology enables researchers to analyze cancer cells in ever more detail. In addition, there is the use of artificial intelligence, which can help in the development of new active ingredients.
However, cancer remains one of the greatest medical challenges of our time. The new active ingredients are still studies and not standard therapies.
Nevertheless, the developments show how quickly cancer medicine is changing. What was considered almost impossible to treat just a few years ago could offer significantly better opportunities in the future. For many patients, this is exactly the most important message. (jve)
Sources used: own RTL research
