Report finds immuno-oncology likely to become the fifth pillar of cancer treatment

Immuno-oncology (I-O) looks set to become the fifth pillar of cancer treatment alongside surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other targeted treatments, a new report indicates.

According to business information and analysis firm GlobalData, its health team analyzed over 4,000 clinical trials and more than 800 I-O products in Phase I–III clinical trials to generate a number of unique actionable insights in their latest report: 'Pharma Focus Visual Analysis of Immuno-Oncology Development and Opportunities'. The report predominantly focuses on developments in active immunotherapy products based on their molecular targets and molecule types. The team also assessed immune checkpoint modulators (based on 21 individual targets) together with a total of 18 solid tumor types and eight blood cancers.

A large selection of treatments within immune-oncology focus on utilizing the immune system to induce an anti-tumor response, leading to tumor stabilization and potential remission from the disease. These treatments achieve their effects through the inhibition, or blockade, of immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs) such as CTLA-4 and PD-1. PD-(L)1 inhibitors are rapidly adopted in indications receiving approval due to significant survival benefit and relatively good safety profiles in comparison with other Standard Of Care (SOC) treatments. The number of regulatory designations generally correlates with the number of first-to-market indications.