Blood cancer affects an individuals’ bone marrow, lymphatic system and the blood itself.
Blood cancer is more prevalent than common knowledge. About 25,000 people are diagnosed with Blood Cancer in the UK every year. This cancer affects the production and functioning of blood cells attributable to the manifestation of an abnormal blood cell. These cancerous cells inhibit the blood from performing many of its primary functions, like fighting off infections or preventing serious bleeding. Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma are the three main groups of blood cancer.
Scientists at a premier biopharm company, Pfizer, have now developed an antibody called PF-06747143 capable of driving cancer cells from their hiding place out onto the open- the bloodstream, where they are taken care of by conventional treatments like the chemotherapy. Therefore, the scientists believe it to be a potential drug for a standalone treatment in people who are not good candidates for chemo, or in combination with traditional therapies.
The Antibody when test in the animal model, of the three groups of blood cancer, was able to kill more cancer cells than standard chemotherapy, both when administered as a solo treatment and in combination with chemo. The mice of AML(acute myeloid leukemia) in
particular showed a 96% decline in cancer cells when used on its own, and a 99% decline when administered in combination with the chemo agents daunorubicin and cytarabine.The antibody has begun its phase 1 trial and is being tried in patients with AML. The recruitment is taking place at hospitals in Arizona, Illinois and North Carolina for the same.
Additionally, preclinical studies suggest the approach may be applicable to other blood cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Pfizer, is on a winning streak from the past several years with some notable successes including breast cancer drug Ibrance and lung cancer treatment Xalkori. It also recently scored an FDA approval for Bavencio, a checkpoint inhibitor to target the skin cancer Merkel cell carcinoma.
