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Berns A. Academia and society should join forces to make anti-cancer treatments more affordable. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:1351-1354. [PMID: 38634213 PMCID: PMC11161723 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Discovery research is the starting point for the development of more effective anti-cancer treatments. It requires an interdisciplinary research environment with first-class infrastructural support in which curiosity-driven research can lead to new concepts for treating cancer. Translating such research findings to clinical practice requires complementary skills and infrastructures, including high-quality clinical facilities, access to patient cohorts and participation of pharma. This complex ecosystem has yielded many new but also "me too" treatment regimens, especially in immuno-oncology resulting in an extremely high pricing of anti-cancer agents. The costs of antibodies, vaccines, and cell therapies charged by pharma stand out although the concepts and methodologies have been largely developed in academia, financed from public funds. Comprehensive Cancer Centres (CCCs) covering a coherent stretch of the cancer research continuum are well-positioned to make these personalized treatments more affordable, but this will require restructuring of the way the translational cancer research continuum is funded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Berns
- Division of Molecular GeneticsThe Netherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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Ng MK, Kuo A, Nian PP, Kridel WJ, Razi AE, Wong CHJ, Mont MA, Piuzzi NS. Market resilience of orthopaedic hip/knee arthroplasty sales during COVID-19. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2024; 144:1835-1841. [PMID: 38386064 DOI: 10.1007/s00402-024-05228-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a marked decrease in elective surgical volume and orthopaedic device sales. The aim of this paper was to quantify this decrease and the related financial impact on the largest hip/knee arthroplasty companies by: (1) tracking individual hip/knee company valuations; (2) calculating aggregate changes in overall hip/knee arthroplasty market valuations; and (3) quantifying quarterly hip/knee revenues relative to prior years. MATERIALS AND METHODS Financial data on the top five hip/knee arthroplasty companies by size between January 1, 2019, and October 1, 2020, was collected from a Wall Street financial database, S&P Capital IQ. Changes in valuation of these companies were compared against benchmark market indices, the S&P500 and Vanguard Healthcare ETF. U.S. hip/knee arthroplasty-specific revenue for Q1 and Q2 of 2019 and 2020 was collected from Securities Exchange Commission 10-Q forms. Quarterly revenue changes were calculated using 1-2Q19 revenues as baselines and aggregate to approximate the overall hip/knee arthroplasty market. RESULTS The top five hip/knee companies lost $179.2 billion (32.7% loss) in market value from pre COVID-19 market highs to COVID-19 market lows (March 2020), while S&P500 and Vanguard Healthcare ETF decreased 36.1 and 33.2%, respectively. From market lows to October 2020, arthroplasty companies rallied 38.6% while the S&P500 and Vanguard Healthcare ETF regained 43.5 and 56.4% respectively. Notably, this occurred while aggregate 1Q/2Q20 revenue lagged 7.1/41.8% relative to 2019, with an overall decrease of $1.58B (24.8%). CONCLUSIONS Similar to the overall market and healthcare sector, the top five hip/knee arthroplasty companies have recovered from their COVID market lows. Our results reveal that the valuations of hip/knee companies remained robust during COVID, even as revenues fell, likely due to strong investor confidence in the industry outlook and the greater overall healthcare system utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell K Ng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11219, USA
| | - Andy Kuo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Patrick P Nian
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA.
- College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA.
| | - William J Kridel
- Healthcare Investment Banking, Ferghana Partners Group, New York, NY, 10170, USA
| | - Afshin E Razi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11219, USA
| | - Che Hang Jason Wong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11219, USA
| | - Michael A Mont
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, 10075, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopaedics, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, 21215, USA
| | - Nicolas S Piuzzi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
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Gore L, O'Brien MM. Only the beginning: 50 years of progress toward curing childhood cancer. Cell 2024; 187:1584-1588. [PMID: 38552608 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Dramatic progress in treating childhood cancer has evolved over decades from initial empirically derived treatments to clinical investigations incorporating disease biology with rationally designed therapeutic programs. While cure is now possible for many, it remains elusive for others. Collaboration across numerous domains is necessary for cure to be a reality for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Gore
- Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Maureen M O'Brien
- Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, USA
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Sullivan R. Cancer medicines: a private vice for public benefit? Ecancermedicalscience 2024; 18:ed131. [PMID: 38425769 PMCID: PMC10901629 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2024.ed131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer medicines have become one of the most dominant global medical technologies. They generate huge profits for the biopharmaceutical industry as well as fuel the research and advocacy activities of public funders, patient organisations, clinical and scientific communities and entire federal political ecosystems. The mismatch between the price, affordability and value of many cancer medicines and global need has generated significant policy debate, yet we see little change in behaviours from any of the major actors from public research funders through to regulatory authorities. In this policy analysis we examine whether, considering the money and power inherent in this system, any rationale global consensus and policy can be achieved to deliver affordable and equitable cancer medicines that consistently deliver clinically meaningful benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Sullivan
- Institute of Cancer Policy, Centre for Cancer, Society & Public Health, King's College London, London SW1 9RT, UK
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Muharremi G, Meçani R, Muka T. The Buzz Surrounding Precision Medicine: The Imperative of Incorporating It into Evidence-Based Medical Practice. J Pers Med 2023; 14:53. [PMID: 38248754 PMCID: PMC10820165 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14010053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Precision medicine (PM), through the integration of omics and environmental data, aims to provide a more precise prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Currently, PM is one of the emerging approaches in modern healthcare and public health, with wide implications for health care delivery, public health policy making formulation, and entrepreneurial endeavors. In spite of its growing popularity and the buzz surrounding it, PM is still in its nascent phase, facing considerable challenges that need to be addressed and resolved for it to attain the acclaim for which it strives. In this article, we discuss some of the current methodological pitfalls of PM, including the use of big data, and provide a perspective on how these challenges can be overcome by bringing PM closer to evidence-based medicine (EBM). Furthermore, to maximize the potential of PM, we present real-world illustrations of how EBM principles can be integrated into a PM approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renald Meçani
- Epistudia, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; (G.M.); (R.M.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Taulant Muka
- Epistudia, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; (G.M.); (R.M.)
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