June 19, 2014
Fire Up the Immuno-Oncology Powerhouses:
by : Editors, The Life Sciences Report
Forecasting when we’ll have a cure for cancer remains beyond the predictive powers of researchers and investors. But forecasting the focus of the latest American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting was in the cards: Immuno-oncology took center stage. In this interview with The Life Sciences Report, Medical Technology Stock Newsletter editor John McCamant describes the excitement surrounding this rapidly evolving sector, and names big pharma and small biotech players conjuring potential game-changers.
The Life Sciences Report: One of the focal points of cancer research each year is the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference, which wrapped up earlier in June. Stephen Dunn talked to us before the conference and was eager to get updates on anti-PD-1 (programmed cell death protein-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors. Was immunotherapy, indeed, a major focus?
John McCamant: As many expected, immuno-oncology was all the rage at the recently concluded ASCO meeting. It was widely acknowledged that before ASCO, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY:NYSE) was the leader in the space, followed by Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK:NYSE) and Roche Holding AG (RHHBY:OTCQX). At the conference, however,
AstraZeneca Plc (AZN:NYSE) showcased its emerging immuno-oncology pipeline. The competitive landscape changes rapidly as this exciting sector evolves.