Big Pharma’s Billion-Dollar Bets on Advanced Cancer Therapies

October 10, 2023 at 10:02 AM EDT

Big Pharma is continuing its oncology buying spree, with a flurry of multi-billion-dollar deals, partnerships, and investments creating a buzz in the cancer treatment space.

American pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is the latest company to jump on the bandwagon, acquiring cancer therapy firm Point Biopharma Global for a staggering $1.4 billion, an almost 90% premium. This acquisition includes a cash offer of $12.50 per share, significantly above Point’s previous closing price.

Point Biopharma Global specializes in radioligand therapies, an advanced approach delivering radiation directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Their project, PNT2002, targets advanced-stage prostate cancer patients unresponsive to hormonal treatments.

Pfizer, another pharmaceutical giant, made waves with its $43 billion acquisition of biotech company Seagen. This strategic move follows Pfizer’s success in the COVID-19 vaccine market. The acquisition adds four approved cancer therapies to Pfizer’s portfolio, with combined 2022 sales nearing $2 billion. Seagen specializes in antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology, precisely targeting cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

Cancer treatments are a top priority for Pfizer, generating $12 billion in revenue last year. This acquisition enhances Pfizer’s position in oncology, enabling a broader range of treatments and innovative therapies for patients.

These multi-billion dollar deals along with increasing government initiatives for cancer awareness and rising prevalence of cancer worldwide sent the global cancer therapy market soaring to US$158 billion in 2020. By 2026, the market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.15% to reach US$268 billion.

In alignment with this dedication is Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE:DTC) (OTC:DTCFF) (FSE:DTC), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company that specializes in cancer vaccines and drug delivery technologies. Partnering with the academic laboratory of world-renowned expert in immuno-oncology Dr. Moutih Rafei, Defence Therapeutics is focused on advancing the development of next-generation vaccines and ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugate) products.

Advancing Cancer Treatments With Upcoming Phase 1 Trials

At the heart of Defence Therapeutics is its proprietary and US patented Accum® drug delivery platform, a first-of-its-kind solution solving previous cancer treatment challenges. This proven breakthrough technology has the ability to deliver treatments at 10 times the rate of other approved solutions.

Utilizing its proprietary Accum® technology, Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE:DTC) (OTC:DTCFF) (FSE:DTC) has significantly improved the efficacy of ADCs by up to 100 times. While enhancing established ADCs like Enhertu, Defence is also forging ahead with two novel in-house ADCs. These developments target specific tumor cells, and in a strategic move, Defence has joined forces with the multinational giant, Orano, to pioneer radio-immunoconjugates, setting a new standard for ADC therapies.

On October 10, Defence Therapeutics announced the publication of a pivotal peer-reviewed study in the prestigious journal of Cancer Science, spotlighting the anticancer potential of unconjugated Accum® for T-cell lymphoma treatment.

The study showed that Accum® not only triggers the death of various cancer cells but also activates the immune system to combat the cancer. The research highlights the significant role of immune T cells, CD4 and CD8, in enhancing the product’s efficiency, providing a promising approach to tumor control.

Defence Therapeutics has been making strides in the realm of cancer research with its novel ARM vaccine. This innovative vaccine, created using the company’s Accum technology, transforms certain cells into agents that can actively target and combat tumors. In animal models, it showed remarkable success against conditions like solid T-cell lymphoma and melanoma, boasting cure rates between 80-100%.

In June, Defence announced a partnership with Transbiotech Biotechnology Research and Transfer Center to further test the vaccine’s potency against pancreatic cancer, a notoriously challenging disease to treat. Defence’s CEO, Mr. Plouffe, emphasized the potential implications of a successful pancreatic cancer treatment, suggesting it could revolutionize the broader battle against difficult-to-treat cancers.

Defence Therapeutics has also made significant progress with its AccuTOX™ program, which is nearing the final stages required for the start of a Phase I clinical trial aimed at melanoma patients at City of Hope in California. AccuTOX has displayed its potent ability to halt tumor growth across several animal studies, targeting conditions like T-cell lymphoma, breast cancer, and notably, melanoma.

To ensure quality production for the trial, Defence partnered with Biopeptek Pharmaceuticals, a renowned US-based Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). Leveraging Biopeptek’s expertise, the company is finalizing the AccuTOX™ drug product to meet FDA’s rigorous standards. With manufacturing completed, a Phase I trial at the City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute is on the horizon for late 2023.

For more information about Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE:DTC) (OTC:DTCFF) and its Accum® technology, visit this link or their website.

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Except as required by law, Defence Therapeutics Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does Defence Therapeutics Inc. nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither Defence Therapeutics Inc. nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document.

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