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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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6

Drug Giants Target Cancer

Scientific advances, potentially huge profits attract Big Pharma to cancer fight

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(Newser) – Major drug companies are tying their fortunes to cancer like never before, the New York Times reports. The firms—inspired by advancements in science as well as the high prices cancer drugs command—are pouring unprecedented resources into the search for new cancer drugs. The drug giants hope cancer treatments can replace sliding revenue from other drugs, although the fact that very few cancer drugs ever break through to market makes it a risky business.

Most cancer drugs offer patients only a few months of extra life at the cost of many thousands of dollars. But industry execs say they are balancing the cost of seeking "longshot" drugs by developing others with more modest results and a better chance of making it past clinical trials.  "If you always swing for home runs, you strike out a lot,” said the chief of one biotechnology firm with 11 cancer drugs under development.

A researcher works on an experiment in a research laboratory at Genentech headquarters.
A researcher works on an experiment in a research laboratory at Genentech headquarters.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)
Bottles of prescription medications move along a production line.
Bottles of prescription medications move along a production line.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file)
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Cancer is such an emotional issue that the free market doesn’t work like it does for bicycle wheels and umbrellas. As long as the health care system will pay the price, the money will flow in
that direction.
- Biotechnology executive Robert L. Erwin

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6 comments
VIEWING:
 
Mad
Sep 2, 09 6:07 AM CDT
It's unforgivable Big Pharm hasn't always aggressively targeted the Big C Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
Citrixguy
Sep 2, 09 7:31 AM CDT
If you don't like the way they have been running their private business, then start your own big drug company
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
skeptik
Sep 2, 09 8:35 AM CDT
I would like to see more $$ funneled into research to find out the causes of cancer & how to prevent it in the first place,rather than new mega-expensive treatments. Reply
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+3
odowd80
Sep 2, 09 8:45 AM CDT
Notice, they're not seeking a cure. They want drug TREATMENTS so that they can keep people with cancer alive an buying their products forever. If they did stumble on a cure they'd probably toss it in the trash because its not profitable. Reply
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
Unaffiliated
Sep 2, 09 9:34 AM CDT
Totally. They want cancer to be treated just like diabetes. They give away glucose meters just to sell you test strips for the rest of your life.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3

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