Pancreatic cancer is an extremely aggressive disease that forms in the tissues of the pancreas, which plays a crucial role in digestion and blood sugar regulation. Unfortunately, the cancer is often only diagnosed at an advanced stage due to its subtle symptoms and lack of effective screening methods, leading to a poor prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of just 2%-10%.
Typically, pancreatic cancer rates are higher in elderly patients with a higher number of cases in men than women. Other risk factors include lifestyle choices.
Globally, pancreatic cancer poses a significant health burden. According to GLOBOCAN 2022, over 500,000 new cases were reported in 2022, driven by a rapidly growing ageing population combined with increased uptake in testing. Asia recorded the highest incidence in 2022, followed by Europe and North America. The disease is characterised by its resistance to conventional therapies, making the development of new treatment options a pressing need in oncology.
Ongoing and new clinical trials
Since 2019, the biotech and biopharma industry has initiated over 2,000 pancreatic cancer trials, led by the US in North America with 88% of the trials, followed by mainland China in the Asia-Pacific region with 43% of trialsi. Other key clinical study locations include Australia, South Korea, and Japan. While in Europe, significant research has taken place in Spain and in Israel. However, in terms of patient recruitment trends, Asia-Pacific has shorter recruiting periods and higher patient recruitment rates.
In 2024, several promising treatments and clinical trials are anticipated to advance the management of pancreatic cancer. One notable development is the ongoing research into a pan-RAS inhibitor, which is expected to significantly alter treatment paradigms for pancreatic cancer, particularly for patients with the G12D mutation.ii This mutation is a common driver in pancreatic cancer and targeting it could lead to better therapeutic outcomes.
Furthermore, the clinical trial landscape is evolving with the introduction of various combination therapies and targeted agents. The development pipeline includes agents that have received breakthrough therapy designation from regulatory authorities, indicating a strong potential for improving patient outcomes. The emphasis on combination therapies is particularly relevant, as these strategies may enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments and address the challenges posed by tumour heterogeneity and resistance mechanisms.
Current treatments
Prominent medical bodies around the world have compiled guidelines to highlight the importance of tailored treatment strategies to improve survival rates by leveraging clinical data and statistics.
The US-based National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and Japan’s Pancreas Society guidelines for 2024 provide detailed recommendations for treatment across various stages, emphasising the use of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy regimen and gemcitabine-based therapies for different stages, with specific regimens for patients based on their diagnosis, cancer stage and genetic mutations.
Current treatments and those in the pipeline include diverse products offered by companies such as Astellas Pharma Inc, Bristol Myers Squibb Co, and Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Ltd, covering small molecule, peptide, and drug/device combinations. Such R&D initiatives reflect the companies’ extensive efforts to improve treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients.
Renewed hope for patients
Pancreatic cancer research has advanced considerably in the last few years, offering renewed hope to patients and their families. Progress in neoadjuvant chemotherapy, RAS-targeted therapies, and stroma-modifying drugs is leading to better outcomes, while new chemotherapy combinations such as NALIRIFOX are now receiving regulatory approval.
The outlook for pancreatic cancer treatment is encouraging, with significant breakthroughs emerging in personalised medicine, earlier detection, and targeted biological therapies. A comprehensive, holistic approach that combines surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and innovative new therapies is expected to further improve survival rates and enhance the quality of life for patients.
About Novotech
Novotech is a global clinical contract research organisation (CRO), which has partnered with numerous biotech companies and completed hundreds of oncology projects – including those in immuno-oncology and advanced therapies for indications such as pancreatic cancer. The company supports over 5,000 clinical projects across all phases and bioequivalence studies. Recognised for its contributions, Novotech received the Global Biotech CRO Company of the Year Award 2024, CRO Leadership Award 2023 and has won the Asia-Pacific CRO Company of the Year every year since 2006.
To find out more about the global clinical trials landscape for pancreatic cancer, download the comprehensive disease report below.
