DNA sequencing exposes new uses for Pfizer targeted cancer drugs

Posted under Blog, Companies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Diagnostics, Dna Sequencing, Foundation Medicine, Funding, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, personalized medicine, Pfizer, Pharmaceuticals, Startups, Sutent, Universities, Videos, Xalkori by Ryan McBride

As pharma companies expand their use of DNA sequencing for drug R&D, researchers have uncovered some potential new targets for existing cancer drugs that are likely to spur further use of sequencing in the biopharma world. And their study has shed light on potential new uses for at least two of drug giant Pfizer's ($PFE) targeted cancer drugs.

With a cancer gene test from life sciences startup Foundation Medicine, the researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and elsewhere found that 59% of lung and colorectal cancer samples tested included genetic abnormalities that could be combated with targeted cancer drugs. A subset of lung cancer samples showed that the patients had mutations that could be targeted with Pfizer's approved kidney cancer drug Sutent, and one patient's colorectal cancer was found to have gene abnormality targeted by Pfizer's Xalkori.

The previously unknown genetic flaw in lung cancer was seen in about 2% of patient samples, but Dana-Farber lung cancer specialist Dr. Pasi Janne says that is enough to warrant further study of the Sutent in certain lung cancer patients, he told Bloomberg. Pfizer is taking an interest in the findings too, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Drugmakers and regulators have shown a willingness to move forward with drugs for small pools of patients if the drugs can deliver major benefits for those patients. With genetic tests like Foundation's catching on among drug developers, there's sure to be other new targets unearthed to propel further development of personalized cancer medicines.

"It is moving closer and closer to real personalized medicine," Janne, a co-author of the study told Bloomberg. "It is fantastic as we can tailor our therapy to the particular genetics of a patient's cancer."

- here's the release
- check out Bloomberg's article

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Texas rustles Dana-Farber science team to spearhead $75M cancer R&D effort

Posted under Blog, Companies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Diagnostics, Funding, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, Startups, Texas, Universities, Videos by John Carroll

With an eye to ramping up some ambitious new R&D work on a new generation of cancer therapies, Houston's renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center has poached 55 scientists from the equally well known Belfer Institute at Dana-Farber, including a big part of its leadership group, to run a new cancer drug research center that promises to help fill what it sees as a growing void in early-stage research efforts.

Backed with a $75 million pledge, MD Anderson is launching "The Institute for Applied Cancer Science" with a plan to get directly involved in drug development work. The move to rustle top scientists from Boston comes just weeks after the Belfer Institute's Ron DePinho was brought in to run it.

"Pharmaceutical companies have downsized their internal research programs," DePinho tells the local public radio station. "Biotechnology companies, which serve as the pipeline from academia to large pharma, are under significant stress due to the economic crisis." So he says the new institute will step in to help fill the gap, as he sees it.

Several years ago, Texas lawmakers agreed to back an ambitious public effort to support cancer drug research in the state. MD Anderson is part of the University of Texas system. It will be interesting to see if DePinho and his relocated team can attract the interest of pharma companies, some of which have been ramping up operations in Boston specifically to get closer to the academic work under way at Dana-Farber.

- read the story from Houston Public Radio and Kaiser Health News

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