Melanoma Therapeutics: Which Strategy Will Take Us There?

Executive Summary

Melanoma drug development has and will continue to have a strong focus on target therapy such as vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, dendritic cells, and gene therapy. In recent years, immunologic strategies including tumor vaccine and adjuvant therapy with interferon-alfa have been attempted to improve survival of patients with more advanced malignant melanoma. Another emerging strategy in anticancer therapy is the targeting of chemotherapy resistance by overcoming the antiapoptosis mechanisms of cancer cells. An example of this approach is the novel antisense oligonucleotide Genasense® that targets the antiapoptotic gene bcl-2. Recently, Genta initiated a European regulatory submission for Genasense® plus chemotherapy for patients with advanced melanoma by sending a letter of intent to EMEA for Marketing Authorization Application. This in-depth analysis, 200+ pages and almost 100 figures, tables and boxes, deals with the current therapy strategies employed and opportunities for increased pharmaceutical intervention, in the context of the present competitive landscape for malignant melanoma.

This report covers the latest on

• Disease overview, including incidence, unmet needs, risk factors, screening and diagnosis.
• Analysis of current treatment and key therapeutic strategies, including surgery, immunotherapy, vaccines and combination therapies.
• Includes product profiles of key drugs by class.
• Progress analysis on more than 60 pipeline products, including emerging and hot pre-clinical data, discontinued projects, clinical trial information, commercial potential and limiting factors.
• Competitive landscape analysis, including extensive lay-out of competitors with collaborations, licensing, M&A etc, major highlights, trends and company profiles on more than 50 of the most important companies in melanoma.