Surge in early-onset breast cancer spurs biotech innovations

Rising breast cancer cases prompt new treatment advances, with biotech firms leading breakthrough efforts

Surge in early-onset breast cancer spurs biotech innovations

An alarming increase in early-onset cancers, particularly breast cancer, is raising concerns among medical experts in Canada, the USA, and the EU.  

A new study from the University of Cambridge points to a significant surge in breast cancer cases, especially among patients previously in remission.  

Despite these challenges, there is optimism about new treatments, with the metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer market expected to grow by 9.3 percent CAGR through 2032.   

Biotech companies such as Oncolytics Biotech Inc., IceCure Medical Ltd, Atossa Therapeutics, Inc., Arvinas, Inc., and Pfizer Inc. are at the forefront of developing innovative treatments.  

Oncolytics Biotech recently gained traction with the FDA, focusing on breast cancer treatment with its drug candidate, pelareorep, in combination with paclitaxel.  

Encouraging data from several studies, including the BRACELET-1 trial, highlighted a nearly tripled confirmed response rate and significant improvements in median progression-free survival and overall survival rates for this combination.   

IceCure Medical reported successful final results from its ICE3 breast cancer cryoablation trial, showcasing a 96.3 percent recurrence-free rate. The company has sought FDA marketing authorization for its ProSense® System for treating early-stage T1 invasive breast cancer.   

Atossa Therapeutics has launched a new trial to evaluate its proprietary (Z)-endoxifen in combination with Eli Lilly's abemaciclib in a pre-surgical setting for women with ER+/HER2- breast cancer, aiming to address high late recurrence rates in certain patient groups.   

Arvinas and Pfizer are advancing vepdegestrant, a novel oral PROTAC® ER degrader, which has received FDA Fast Track Designation.  

The Phase 3 VERITAC-2 trial is evaluating vepdegestrant's efficacy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer who have previously undergone endocrine-based therapy.   

These developments represent significant strides in the fight against breast cancer, with biotech companies working diligently to improve clinical outcomes and provide new therapeutic options for patients facing this challenging disease.