Oncology

Every year, in many countries, including the U.S., cancer causes more deaths than any other medical condition except heart disease.

Pfizer continues to expand its efforts in oncology as demonstrated by a growing investment, increasing publications, and expansion of the number of programs in development. Pfizer researchers are working to find treatments that focus on specific targets important in tumor growth that address unmet medical needs.

Pfizer's Sutent^® has been approved for the treatment of patients with kidney cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. This targeted therapy cuts off the blood supply to the cancer and directly inhibits cellular reproduction. Sutent is in trials for the treatment of breast, lung, and colorectal cancer.

In addition, Pfizer has two other novel agents in Phase 3 registration studies. There are other programs in clinical development, ranging from monoclonal antibodies to small molecules that target key pathways necessary for tumor cell growth in addition to immunotherapy approaches. These programs include inhibitors of c-MET, ALK-1, p-Cadherin, CDK, and other novel targets.

Pfizer's approach to the fight against cancer focuses on four different methods of treatment:

• Angiogenesis Inhibition: blocking the growth of the blood vessels which grow to, and 'feed', cancerous tumors.
• Immunotherapy: 'awakening' the body's immune system to help better fight cancer.
• Signal Transduction Inhibition: stopping the abnormal signals within cancer cells.
• Cytotoxics/Potentiators: exploiting the defects in cancer cells to stop them from repairing and replicating.

Oncologic Conditions

Indications for medicines currently in phases of development, from Phase 1 through approval:

• Breast Cancer – A cancerous tumor of the breast tissue.
• Cancer – Approaches for single medicines that treat multiple types and locations of cancer.
• Colorectal Cancer – Cancer of the colon (large intestine) or the rectum (the end of the large intestine).
• Lung Cancer – The abnormal growth of cells in lung tissue. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.
• Melanoma – A malignant skin tumor that begins in the cells that produce skin coloring (melanocytes).
• Pancreatic Cancer – A malignant tumor within the pancreas.
• Thyroid Neoplasm – Cancer of the thyroid gland.

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