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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Cancer drug success 'on the rise' | Cancer drug success 'on the rise' |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Cancer drug research is entering a new era which will mean more successful drugs for patients, says a charity. | Cancer drug research is entering a new era which will mean more successful drugs for patients, says a charity. |
| However, Cancer Research UK called for pharmaceutical firms and academics to be more open about those which do not make the grade. | However, Cancer Research UK called for pharmaceutical firms and academics to be more open about those which do not make the grade. |
| Improved knowledge of cancer's biology means 18% of new drugs, compared with 5% previously - will become standard treatments, said the charity's experts. | |
| Their research was published in the journal Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. | Their research was published in the journal Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. |
| We strongly believe that both industry and academia must improve the availability of data related to failed as well as successful drug development programmes Professor Herbie NewellCancer Research UK | We strongly believe that both industry and academia must improve the availability of data related to failed as well as successful drug development programmes Professor Herbie NewellCancer Research UK |
| The hunt for cancer drugs is carried out on a massive scale, but there is also a massive failure rate, as promising candidates fall by the wayside in clinical trials. | The hunt for cancer drugs is carried out on a massive scale, but there is also a massive failure rate, as promising candidates fall by the wayside in clinical trials. |
| This costs drug firms and charities such as Cancer Research UK many millions, although scientists can learn lessons even from expensive failures. | This costs drug firms and charities such as Cancer Research UK many millions, although scientists can learn lessons even from expensive failures. |
| Some studies have estimated that, in the past, just 5% of cancer drugs in the pipeline actually end up in the clinic being used day to day. | Some studies have estimated that, in the past, just 5% of cancer drugs in the pipeline actually end up in the clinic being used day to day. |
| Data on 974 drugs under development, gathered by Cancer Research UK experts, suggests that 18% of them will prove successful in clinical trials. | Data on 974 drugs under development, gathered by Cancer Research UK experts, suggests that 18% of them will prove successful in clinical trials. |
| It is hoped that many of them will be alternatives to conventional chemotherapy, which can have unpleasant and dangerous side-effects, targeting the mechanisms of cancer cells more directly, with less damage to healthy cells. | It is hoped that many of them will be alternatives to conventional chemotherapy, which can have unpleasant and dangerous side-effects, targeting the mechanisms of cancer cells more directly, with less damage to healthy cells. |
| Genetic make-up | Genetic make-up |
| Dr Ian Walker, the licensing manager at the charity's commercial development arm, said: "This clearly demonstrates the benefits of developing molecularly targeted treatments for cancer - understanding more about the basic biology of cancer is making a real difference to the success rate for new anti-cancer drug development." | Dr Ian Walker, the licensing manager at the charity's commercial development arm, said: "This clearly demonstrates the benefits of developing molecularly targeted treatments for cancer - understanding more about the basic biology of cancer is making a real difference to the success rate for new anti-cancer drug development." |
| The ability to tailor drug choices to the genetic make-up of patients in some cases is also having a benefit. | The ability to tailor drug choices to the genetic make-up of patients in some cases is also having a benefit. |
| However, Professor Herbie Newell, also from Cancer Research UK, said that minimising the number of "failures" - and their cost to the industry - would be vital, and this could be helped if researchers and drug companies were more open about what worked, and what did not: | However, Professor Herbie Newell, also from Cancer Research UK, said that minimising the number of "failures" - and their cost to the industry - would be vital, and this could be helped if researchers and drug companies were more open about what worked, and what did not: |
| "We strongly believe that both industry and academia must improve the availability of data related to failed as well as successful drug development programmes. | "We strongly believe that both industry and academia must improve the availability of data related to failed as well as successful drug development programmes. |
| "The sharing of such information can only be beneficial for clinical, scientific and commercial reasons - and will help measure our progress as well as pinpoint areas for improvement." | "The sharing of such information can only be beneficial for clinical, scientific and commercial reasons - and will help measure our progress as well as pinpoint areas for improvement." |