Melanoma cases to double, providing promising pipeline and significant opportunities for drug developers willing to invest

The number of cases of melanoma is predicted to nearly double before the end of the decade, says research firm Datamonitor, from an anticipated 138,000 new cases this year to 227,000 new cases in 2019 as a result of continued exposure to risk factors.

Tom Gray, senior health care analyst at Datamonitor, comments: 'There is real opportunity for drug developers willing to invest in this market. A significant unmet need remains for more effective drugs, which makes melanoma a popular R&D target. While this has yet to translate into novel, effective therapies, there are several promising candidates in late-phase development that could change the face of melanoma treatment.'

Current cytotoxics and cytokines induce response rates up to a maximum of 25%, with no significant benefit to overall survival rates hence the high mortality rate associated with metastatic melanoma.