Pancreatic Cancer - Competitive Landscape, 2024

DelveInsight's, "Pancreatic Cancer - Competitive landscape, 2024," report provides comprehensive insights about 180+ companies and 190+ drugs in Pancreatic Cancer Competitive landscape. It covers the therapeutics assessment by product type, stage, route of administration, and molecule type. It further highlights the inactive pipeline products in this space.

Geography Covered:

• Global coverage

Pancreatic Cancer: Understanding

Pancreatic Cancer: Overview

Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant or cancer cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of the pancreas - an organ in the abdomen that lies behind the lower part of the stomach. The pancreas is a gland about 6 inch long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The gland release enzymes that aid digestion and produces hormones that help manage blood sugar. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail. The common symptoms associated with Pancreatic Cancer are jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), light-colored stools, dark urine, pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back, weight loss and Loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, gallbladder and liver enlargement, diabetes and deep vein thrombosis or DVT. Signs and symptoms may be caused by pancreatic cancer or by other conditions.

Pancreatic cancer can take place either through carcinogenesis or through molecular genetics.

Carcinogenesis: Pancreatic cancer most frequently arises from pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), the classic pre-neoplastic lesions, but can also arise from larger precursor lesions, namely, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms. It exhibits aberrant autocrine and paracrine signaling cascades that promote pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis.

Molecular Genetics: The genes involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer can be divided into three categories: tumor-suppressor genes, oncogenes, and DNA mismatch-repair genes. The most frequent genetic abnormalities in invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma are mutational activation of Kras oncogene and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, including CDKN2A, TP53, SMAD4, and BRCA2.

Pancreatic cancer diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical exam, followed by blood tests to check for tumor markers like CA19-9. Imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI, and PET scans help detect and assess the spread of cancer. A definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy, which can be done via methods like endoscopic ultrasound, ERCP, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, or laparoscopy. Pancreatic cancer treatment varies based on the cancer's stage. For resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Locally advanced cancer treatments include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and palliative procedures. Metastatic or recurrent cancer treatments involve chemotherapy, sometimes combined with new anticancer agents. Standard treatments also encompass surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and palliative care to improve quality of life by managing symptoms.

Report Highlights:

• In August 2024, PanTher Therapeutics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for PTM-101, to proceed in a Phase Ib clinical study in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
• In July 2024, Diakonos Oncology Corporation announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to dendritic cell vaccine (DCV) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
• In May 2024, Cantex Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation to azeliragon (TTP488) for patients with pancreatic cancer.
• In May 2024, The US FDA had granted Orphan drug designation to Azeliragon as a potential therapeutic option for patients with pancreatic cancer. Azeliragon is a lead product candidate being developed by Cantex Pharmaceuticals.
• In May 2024, Pancreatic cancer research received $8m philanthropic funding boost. This exceptional $8 million, 10-year philanthropic investment will spearhead new treatments for pancreatic cancer and create a new dedicated research centre at WEHI.
• In May 2024, Oncolytics Biotech(R) Inc. announced that it had entered into a preliminary collaboration with the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR). The purpose of the preliminary collaboration is to commence planning activities for the evaluation of pelareorep in the treatment of first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as part of GCAR's anticipated master protocol for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
• In March 2024, Catalan biopharmaceutical company AbilityPharma had secured a €7m ($7.65m) investment to progress its Phase IIb clinical trial of ABTL0812, an autophagy inducer that targets metastatic pancreatic cancer.
• In January 2024, Focal Medical has received clearance for its investigational new drug (IND) application from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence a Phase Ib clinical trial for its investigational product, ACT-IOP-003, for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer: Company and Product Profiles (Marketed Therapies)

1. Company Overview: AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and Biopharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

Product Description:

OPZELURA, a novel cream formulation of Incyte's selective JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor. OPZELURA targets the signaling of key cytokines believed to contribute to inflammation and itch in AD. JAKs are intracellular signaling enzymes that act downstream of many inflammatory cytokines involved in AD pathogenesis. Ruxolitinib, is the first and only topical JAK inhibitor approved for use in the United States for the topical short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate Pancreatic Cancer (AD) in non-immunocompromised patients 12 years of age and older whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies, or when those therapies are not advisable.

2. Company Overview: Celgene

Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, is an integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and immune/inflammatory related diseases. In January 2019, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Celgene Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire Celgene in a cash and stock transaction with an equity value of approximately $74 billion.

Product Description: Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel)

ABRAXANE(R) is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced pancreatic cancer, when used in combination with gemcitabine, as the first medicine you receive for advanced pancreatic cancer. In September 2013, the FDA approved Abraxane in combination with gemcitabine to treat patients with late-stage pancreatic cancer. The latest approval was based on data from an international, multisite phase III clinical trial, announced in January, that compared 431 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who took nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine with 430 patients who took gemcitabine alone. Patients treated with the nab-paclitaxel-gemcitabine combination lived an average of 1.8 months longer than those treated with gemcitabine alone. In addition, they experienced progression-free survival that was 1.8 months longer than the patients who received only gemcitabine. ABRAXANE(R) for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound), for intravenous use.

Pancreatic Cancer: Company and Product Profiles (Pipeline Therapies)

1. Company Overview: FibroGen, Inc.

FibroGen, Inc. is a leading biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing a pipeline of first-in-class therapeutics. The company applies its pioneering expertise in hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) biology, and clinical development to advance innovative medicines for the treatment of anemia, fibrotic disease, and cancer. Roxadustat, the company's most advanced product candidate, is an oral small molecule inhibitor of HIF prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) activity, completing Phase III clinical development worldwide for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD), with a New Drug Application (NDA) now approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China.

Product Description: Pamrevlumab

Pamrevlumab is a first-in-class antibody developed by FibroGen to inhibit the activity of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a common factor in fibrotic and proliferative disorders characterized by persistent and excessive scarring that can lead to organ dysfunction and failure. Pamrevlumab has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in IPF, pancreatic cancer, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Pamrevlumab has also received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with IPF and for patients with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. Currently the drug is in Phase III stage of development for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

2. Company Overview: AB Science

AB Science is a pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and commercialization of protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs), a class of targeted proteins whose action are key in signaling pathways within cells. Our programs target only diseases with high unmet medical needs, often lethal with short term survival or rare or refractory to previous line of treatment. AB Science has developed a proprietary portfolio of molecules and the Company's lead compound, masitinib, has already been registered for veterinary medicine and is developed in human medicine in oncology, neurological diseases, inflammatory diseases and viral diseases. The company is headquartered in Paris, France, and listed on Euronext Paris.

Product Description: Masitinib

Masitinib is a new orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets mast cells and macrophages, important cells for immunity, through inhibiting a limited number of kinases. Based on its unique mechanism of action, masitinib can be developed in a large number of conditions in oncology, in inflammatory diseases, and in certain diseases of the central nervous system. In oncology due to its immunotherapy effect, masitinib can have an effect on survival, alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Through its activity on mast cells and microglia and consequently the inhibition of the activation of the inflammatory process, masitinib can have an effect on the symptoms associated with some inflammatory and central nervous system diseases and the degeneration of these diseases. The drug has recently completed Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

3. Company Overview: Arcus Biosciences

Arcus Biosciences is a clinical-stage, global biopharmaceutical company developing differentiated molecules and combination medicines for people with cancer. In partnership with industry collaborators, patients and physicians around the world, Arcus is expediting the development of first- and best-in-class medicines against well-characterized biological targets and pathways and studying novel, biology-driven combinations that have the potential to help people with cancer live longer. Founded in 2015, the company has expedited the development of multiple investigational medicines into clinical studies, including new combination approaches that target TIGIT, PD-1, the adenosine axis (CD73 and dual A2a/A2b receptor), HIF-2a, CD39 and AXL. For more information about Arcus Biosciences' clinical and pre-clinical program.

Product Description: Quemliclustat

Quemliclustat is an investigational, potent and selective small molecule CD73 inhibitor. CD73 is the primary enzymatic producer of immunosuppressive adenosine in the tumor microenvironment, and high CD73 expression is associated with significantly poorer prognosis in several tumor types. Quemliclustat has been shown to block the production of adenosine. Once the immunosuppressive effects of adenosine are removed, activation of antitumor immune cells may be restored, resulting in cancer cell death. Arcus and Gilead are currently evaluating quemliclustat in combination with other molecules within the collaboration portfolio with chemotherapy. The drug is currently in Phase II stage of development for the treatment of patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

4. Company Overview: Andes Biotechnologies

Andes Biotechnologies aim is to carry out research and development of new anticancer therapies based on the inactivation of novel non-coding mitochondrial RNA targets through anti-sense technology. Andes has a portfolio of more than 70 patent in key markets around the world, covering the diagnostic and therapeutic uses of non-coding mitochondrial RNA oligonucleotides which have the potential of selectively eliminating tumor cells without harming normal cells in many Cancer types. The company has a management team with extensive experience in drug development and biotechnology research, which has successfully developed, patented and registered products currently marketed in the U.S. and Europe.

Product Description: Andes 1537

Andes-1537 is a short single stranded phosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotide which binds by base pairing to one of 2 newly discovered non-coding RNAs, named Antisense non-coding mitochondrial RNA (ASncmtRNA). The resulting RNA-DNA hybrid is then hydrolyzed by two cellular RNases: RNase H and DICER resulting in microRNAs. In vitro experiments with cells have shown Andes-1537 affects cancer cells by a) inducing apoptosis by lowering the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins such as survivin b) decreasing proliferative signaling through inhibition of the expression of proteins such as cyclin D1 and cyclin B1, and c) inhibition of tissue invasion/metastatic proteins such as n-cadherin, B-catenin and metastasis inducing factors. The drug is currently in Phase I stage of development for the treatment of patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

5. Company Overview: Varian Biopharmaceuticals

Varian Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel, targeted oncology therapies with transformational potential for cancer patients. The company strategy is to identify, license and develop a pipeline of therapeutic candidates that we believe have novel mechanisms of action and transformative clinical potential, and then to bring the requisite scientific and clinical resources together to move them forward in the promise of safer and more effective cancer treatments.

Product Description: VAR-102

VAR-102, an aPKCi inhibitor, has demonstrated dose dependent anti-tumor activity in murine and human BCC cell lines, as well as other cancer models. VAR-102, an oral formulation of the active aPKCi inhibitor, lends itself to broader applications in multiple tumor types. Currently the drugs is in preclinical stage of its development for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer Analytical Perspective by DelveInsight

• In-depth Commercial Assessment: Pancreatic Cancer Collaboration Analysis by Companies

The Report provides in-depth commercial assessment of drugs that have been included, which comprises collaboration, agreement, licensing and acquisition - deals values trends. The sub-segmentation is described in the report which provide company-company collaboration (licensing/partnering), company academic collaboration and acquisition analysis in tabulated form.

• Pancreatic Cancer Competitive Landscape

The report comprises of comparative assessment of Companies (by therapy, development stage, and technology).

Pancreatic Cancer Report Assessment

• Company Analysis
• Therapeutic Assessment
• Pipeline Assessment
• Inactive drugs assessment
• Unmet Needs

Key Questions:

Current Treatment Scenario and Emerging Therapies:

• How many companies are developing Pancreatic Cancer drugs?
• How many Pancreatic Cancer drugs are developed by each company?
• How many emerging drugs are in mid-stage, and late-stage of development for the treatment of Pancreatic Cancer?
• What are the key collaborations (Industry-Industry, Industry-Academia), Mergers and acquisitions, licensing activities related to the Pancreatic Cancer therapeutics?
• What are the recent trends, drug types and novel technologies developed to overcome the limitation of existing therapies?
• What are the clinical studies going on for Pancreatic Cancer and their status?
• What are the key designations that have been granted to the emerging and approved drugs?

Key Players

• FibroGen
• AB Science
• Cardiff Oncology
• Arcus Biosciences
• Andes Biotechnologies
• DEKA Biosciences
• TransCode Therapeutics
• Varian Biopharmaceuticals
• Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Inc
• Abbisko Therapeutics
• Celgene/MedImmune
• InnoMab
• HUTCHMED
• VelosBio
• Transcenta Holding
• Bristol-Myers Squibb/Ono Pharmaceuticals
• Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine
• ProDa BioTech
• Nanjing KAEDI Biotech
• Shanghai Genechem

Key Products

• Pamrevlumab
• Masitinib
• Onvansertib
• Quemliclustat
• Andes 1537
• DK210
• TTX-siPDL1
• VAR-102
• Devimistat
• Pimicotinib
• Durvalumab
• Nimotuzumab
• Surufatinib
• Zilovertamab vedotin
• Osemitamab
• Nivolumab
• Retlirafusp alfa
• ProAgio
• KD 496
• GB 3010