German pharma developing drugs against 31 forms of cancer

Cancer is the top priority for Germany's research-based pharmaceutical companies. In the last few years they have launched several treatments that have prolonged the lives of patients with intestinal, breast and various other forms of cancer. Around a third of research projects are dedicated to the development of new cancer therapies.

'The aim,' says Siegfried Throm, manager of research, development and innovation at the research-based drugmakers' association the VFA, 'is to offer more and more patients the hope of recovery or at least stem the advance of cancerous cells so that the disease becomes a chronic condition that allows patients to live a great deal longer.'

By 2013, there should be many new drugs available to combat 31 forms of cancer, ranging from prostate, lung and breast cancer to rare forms of the disease such as thyroid cancer and chronic lymphatic leukemia. Many of these new treatments will attempt a fresh approach to fighting the disease. For instance, pharmaceutical groups are working on vaccines that revitalize the immune system of already sick patients in fighting lung or skin cancer.