Cancer, the second leading cause of death, has been recognised as a global health risk, with an estimated 19.3 million new cases in 2020. Asia accounts for half of the world’s cancer burden, with nearly 49.3 per cent of new cases and 58.3 per cent of cancer deaths (2020). Moreover, estimates show its incidence may reach 15.1 million by 2040.
An increase in ageing population and socioeconomic changes play a role in this surge. By 2050, Asia will be home to 1.3 billion people above the age of 60. Lifestyle changes such as poor dietary patterns, use of tobacco and alcohol, physical inactivity, and the greater incidence of metabolic diseases like hypertension and obesity also enhance risk.
Rise of precision oncology
Treatments for cancer seek to kill cells or prevent them from spreading and include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or their combinations. However, treatment resistance is often observed and is the leading cause of death.
With advances in technology and genetic mapping/engineering, cancer therapy has shifted to precision medicine which provides treatment tailored to the patient’s profile. Some novel cancer therapies include immunotherapy, targeted therapies, hormonal therapies, and stem cell-based therapy. Since each patient is unique, precision oncology helps in therapy optimisation.
Biotech companies drive innovation
Several innovations in precision oncology come from advances in biotech. This branch of science utilises biological systems to produce beneficial products such as therapeutic proteins and drugs such as monoclonal antibodies.
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Cancer researchers now have a better understanding of the genetics of cancer growth. Cancer biotechnology has led to the discovery of oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and the development of genome editing tools and biomarkers, all of which have revolutionised cancer detection and treatment. Biomarkers are proteins or other substances produced by a patient that can provide information about cancer and help screen patients for the early detection of cancer. While certain biomarkers help to refine therapy and prognosis, others aid in diagnosis.
This increased understanding has also helped biopharma companies develop more effective interventions. For example, companies such as AUM Biosciences design treatment plans with multi-faceted cancer inhibition strategies to help overcome cancer resistance. AUM also follows the ‘No biomarker, No drug’ strategy to create precise patient care plans.
Asia-specific concerns
With cancer incidence estimated to rise, the introduction of innovative treatments, including precision oncology, is essential in Asia. However, affordability and accessibility to treatment remain difficult, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Across Asia-Pacific markets, limited access to cancer treatment affects patient outcomes. Moreover, cancer drug development involves years of research and millions of dollars, from identifying the compound to preclinical and clinical data generation.
Furthermore, specialised regulatory policies are needed to accommodate innovative treatment protocols. The resulting high cost of cancer drugs leads to nearly half of the cancer patients from low and middle-income families facing financial crises.
Precision oncology has been mainly studied in Western countries. However, due to regional variations in mutations, precision therapeutics need to be customised for Asian countries. For example, in non-small cell lung cancer, 30 per cent of East Asian patients showed a higher prevalence of a certain mutation versus seven per cent of their Western counterparts. Dedicated research is hence needed to map out Asia-specific modifications to customise treatment.
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In line with this, Asian biopharma companies are focusing on region-specific research. Japan, China, and Korea have taken the lead in this endeavour. It is estimated that 80 per cent of precision drugs entering the registration phase over the next three to five years will be from these countries.
A peek into the future for biotech companies
Biotech companies are frontiers of innovation in precision oncology. From 2018 to 2019, there was a 16 per cent jump in the number of immune-oncology treatments in development versus a three per cent increase in non-immunological ones.
Also, 16 of the 25 diseases that biopharma companies were working on were different types of cancers. The future of cancer treatment is likely to be biotherapy-based. The Asian precision medicine market was over US$11 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow by around 12.3 per cent by 2027.
Precision oncology is a platform for the development of treatment modalities that suit the specific needs of those suffering from cancer and offer them a new ray of hope. The goal is to deliver the right medicine at the right time to the right patient at the right dosage.
Understanding the uniqueness of a patient’s tumour and tailoring the treatment plan is a major focus in translational research. With the help of precision medicine, specific tumour mutations are matched with drugs targeting these aberrant pathways. These novel treatment modalities may enhance survival rates and minimise side effects associated with cancer treatment.
In Asia, where accessibility and affordability of cancer care are key issues, biotech companies can apply these innovative techniques to develop tailored treatment plans and offer better patient outcomes.
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