Written By Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases that has plagued mankind for centuries. Despite countless efforts, scientists are still struggling to find a cure for this disease. However, there have been numerous breakthroughs in recent years that ignite hope and excitement within the medical community. One such advancement is Pfizer’s acquisition of Seagen, which promises to flip cancer treatment on its head. In this blog post, we take a closer look at how this collaboration can change the game in cancer research and provide new solutions to patients worldwide.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer can start almost anywhere in the body, which is made up of trillions of cells. Normally, human cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells become old or damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body doesn’t need them, and old or damaged cells don’t die as they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and invade nearby tissues. A benign tumor means it cannot grow and invade nearby tissues. Benign tumors are not usually life-threatening.
Cancerous tumors often have the ability to metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system (the system that drains fluid from tissue). When cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the breast, colon, lung, kidney, and prostate.
The current state of cancer research
Cancer research is an ongoing area of scientific inquiry that seeks to identify the causes of cancer, develop new treatments and preventative measures, and improve the quality of life for cancer patients. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the biology of cancer and the development of new therapies, the burden of cancer remains high. In 2020, an estimated 1.8 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone, and over 600,000 will die from the disease [1].
The good news is that survival rates are improving. Thanks to advances in early detection and treatment, as well as increased public awareness about lifestyle choices that can reduce cancer risk, more people are surviving cancer than ever before [2]. However, there is still much room for improvement.
One promising area of research is immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy drugs have shown promise in treating a number of different types of cancer, including melanoma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer [3]. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two new immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of advanced melanoma: pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) and nivolumab (Opdivo®). These drugs work by targeting a protein called PD-1 that helps keep immune cells from attacking tumors [4].
Another area of active research is targeted therapy. Targeted therapy drugs are designed to specifically target the genetic
Seagen and Pfizer’s recent acquisition
Pfizer and Seagen, a biotechnology company, recently announced an agreement to acquire Seagen in an all-cash transaction valued at $14 billion. The acquisition will bolster Pfizer’s Oncology business and expand its portfolio of cancer treatments.
The deal includes a $2 billion upfront payment to Seagen shareholders, with the remainder to be paid over time as certain milestones are achieved. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021.
Seagen is a global leader in the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which are designed to deliver powerful cancer-killing agents directly to tumor cells while sparing healthy cells. Seagen’s lead product, Adcetris® (brentuximab vedotin), is approved in more than 65 countries for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
The acquisition of Seagen will give Pfizer a leading ADC platform and technology that can be applied across a broad range of cancers. In addition, Pfizer will gain access toSeagen’s clinical-stage pipeline of ADCs, including three programs that are currently in Phase III clinical trials.
“The addition of Seagen’s ADC technology and pipeline assets will complement our existing world-class oncology research and development capabilities and help accelerate our goal of becoming the premier innovative biopharmaceutical company,” said Albert Bourla,
What this means for the future of cancer research
Pfizer’s acquisition of Seagen is a major step forward in the fight against cancer. With Seagen’s cutting-edge technology and Pfizer’s vast resources, the two companies are well-positioned to make significant advances in cancer research.
Seagen’s technology includes a novel antibody that targets a protein called CDK4/6. This protein is important for the growth and division of cells, and is overexpressed in many types of cancer. The antibody has shown promise in early clinical trials, and Pfizer plans to continue its development.
In addition to its work on CDK4/6, Seagen is also researching other potential targets for cancer treatment. For example, the company is developing an antibody that targets a protein called HER2, which is overexpressed in breast cancer. This antibody has shown promising results in early clinical trials, and Pfizer plans to continue its development as well.
Pfizer’s acquisition of Seagen gives the company access to cutting-edge technology and a team of experienced researchers. With these assets, Pfizer is well-positioned to make significant progress in the fight against cancer.
Conclusion
Pfizer’s acquisition of Seagen marks an important milestone in the fight against cancer. By combining their resources and expertise, the two companies are paving the way for more effective treatments that could save lives around the world. This is a step forward in increasing access to cutting-edge treatments and new technologies that will help us better understand and treat cancer. With this development, we can hope for even greater advancements in cancer research going forward as researchers strive to improve our understanding of this devastating disease.
