It is the first success of the immunotherapy

This breakthrough confirms how science plays an essential role in the discovery of new anti-cancer drugs. This also shows that industry know now construct a molecule fits a biological target identified. "Mark Kris, Chief of Thoracic Oncology at Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Center in New Jersey, and welcomes a new anti-cancer agent with a curious name: inhibitor KLA. This acronym refers to a gene and its protein, responsible for this mutation in 5 of the victims of the most common form of lung cancer. Treatment, experienced in Korea on a small number of patients (84), is to be presented at the World Congress of Oncology (Asco) which ends today in Chicago. The results are compelling: in 90 of patients, the tumor regressed. "This drug will surely benefit from an accelerated approval procedure." "We will quickly mount a test for our French patients," said Fabien Calvo, Scientific Director of the national Institute of cancer (Inca). Less than three years between the initial discovery of the genetic anomaly and the first trials of the molecule, developed by the U.S. Pfizer.

Success in immunotherapy

Another good news, the confirmation of the efficacy of a monoclonal antibody to treat a very aggressive skin cancer: Melanoma at an advanced stage. Ipilimumab, Bristol-Myers Squibb, is also presented as a major conceptual breakthrough. This molecule boosts the immune system and therefore acts as a kind of therapeutic vaccine. "It is the first time that we get interesting results on this type of very deadly cancer," said Lynn Schuchter, of the University of Pennsylvania. This product could be available towards the end of the year. It concerns the 40,000 people victims of melanoma worldwide every year. "It is the first success of the immunotherapy." "We had almost nothing against melanoma", says Fabien Calvo.

These newcomers extend median survival of patients with four to six months. They will join a broad therapeutic arsenal, including the day-to-day management is becoming increasingly more difficult (read below). "For us, the true challenge is to access our patients all these innovations", summarizes Joseph Gligorov, oncologist at hôpital Tenon in Paris.

This anti-cancer new race has only just begun. More than 800 molecules are currently under development in the pharmacy industry. About 10 will probably get the approval of the health authorities. Some are reminiscent of cruise missiles seeking their target to destroy it. Others combine lymphocytes to improve their effectiveness. The first bear a toxic load which destroys the cancer cells. The latter are in theory capable of cleaning the body in depth, by removing the last relapse responsible dormant stem cells. "One day, we can probably heal follicular lymphomas by eliminating all residual cells in the body", States Gilles Salles, hematologist at the University of Lyon.

"Armed" antibodies

This year, all industrial use a same mantra to justify their strategy: therapeutic innovation is drawn by science. In the worldwide leader in the sector, the Swiss Roche, this approach has become almost obsessive. The firm Basel, pioneer of therapies targeted, relies on two new concepts to renew its portfolio threatened by competition and the arrival of the biogénériques.

The first track is "armed" antibodies It is in fact to associate the natural flair of an antibody and the power of a chemical molecule. The first is able to identify a cancer cell identified by its specific surface receptors. Once the docking is managed by the vector, the toxic molecule destroys the cell. A team of this type, involving known antibody (trastuzumab) with an existing molecule (TDM1), is currently being tested in breast cancer. "We project some 50 armed with this type antibody", announces Hal Barron, Vice-President of the Swiss firm.

The other track is more risky. By attaching a monoclonal antibody of the sugar molecules, researchers seek education and stimulation of the immune system. Once duly recruited lymphocytes became hunters for the patient safe and effective cancer cells. These techniques of glycoingénierie were originally developed by the PMI Switzerland GlycArt. Preliminary trials in colorectal cancer and a form of leukemia are being tested. But this a priori ideal solution requires caution. An overstimulation of the system can lead to the induction of an immune storm from the body. To stay in the race to innovation, the Basel group looks not at the expense. The past year, some 200 agreements have been signed in the field of basic research.

Far from those reserved for the rich "big Pharma" strategies, Christophe Pasik, leader of the small Paris company Keocyt, which employs 6 people, focuses on the rejuvenation of mature molecules that have been abandoned by industry. "In real life, this will be very difficult to practice." "The first line of treatment, there is not much consensus among experts", notes this physician entrepreneur, former Pfizer.