Oncology

It is over ten years since the first monoclonal antibody drug to treat cancer was launched onto the market. Since then sales of antibody-based cancer drugs have grown rapidly, with the top four achieving combined revenues in excess of US $14 billion in 2007.

One proven approach to treating cancers is by preventing the development of new blood vessels which solid tumours need in order to grow and metastasise. TB-403, an antibody that targets Placenta Growth Factor (PlGF), is being developed as a novel inhibitor of blood vessel development (angiogenesis). As PIGF is involved in abnormal but not physiological angiogenesis, the drug should have a reduced number of side effects compared to current anti-angiogenic treatments. This programme was partnered with Roche in 2008. The Company has reported the completion of two successful Phase I studies of TB-403. It has the potential to be an important alternative treatment for multiple solid tumours as well as other indications. Annual world-wide sales of the leading angiogenesis inhibitor exceeded US $4 billion in 2008.

We have used our proprietary selection technology to identify several antibodies that can selectively recognise cancer cells and trigger their death through a process called apoptosis. This search also identified a number of novel targets for causing cancer cell apoptosis (for more information see Science section). One of these antibodies has now entered preclinical development. BI-505 is being developed initially as a treatment for multiple myeloma.

The market for the treatment of multiple myeloma is significant: sales of two recently launched drugs totalled US $2 billion in 2007. Annual sales of the leading lymphoma treatment are around US $4 billion.