New therapies to boost cancer

Innovative therapies will boost the cancer treatment market in the next five years, according to a report by Business Communications Co, Norwalk, CT in the US.

The study, RB-152: New developments in cancer therapeutics, shows that the worldwide cancer drug market is expected to exceed $26.7 billion in 2005. Between 2000 and 2005, an estimated 134 new drugs to treat cancer will be introduced, which are expected to generate a 75% increase in total cancer drug sales.

In the late 1990s, innovative therapies were introduced that specifically targeted cancer cells, rather than acting systemically. According to the authors of the report, products such as angiogenesis inhibitors, cancer vaccines and gene therapy, as well as monoclonal antibody products and improvements in existing therapies, will result in tremendous growth in the cancer therapeutics market during the forecast period.