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What Next In Oncology?

Finding The Next Generation Of Cancer Mega-Blockbusters Is Challenging

 
• By Melanie Senior

Oncology dominates pharma sales and pipeline league tables. But where is the next Keytruda? 

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• Source: Shutterstock

Cancer treatment has transformed over the last 25 years. Since the first genetically targeted treatments emerged in the 1990s and immune checkpoint inhibitors in the 2010s, oncology has consistently overshadowed other therapy areas. Cancer tops the approved drugs roster, the number and combined value of R&D programs, dealmaking numbers and venture capital investment. Total cancer drug sales of $180bn in 2022 eclipsed other areas and will grow to over $340bn by 2028, according to Evaluate. That’s more than double the next-best placed category, neurology products.

But the two most valuable cancer drugs, Merck & Co., Inc.’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Johnson & Johnson’s anti-CD38...

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