Our Oncology Portfolio

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Europe for women.⁶ The impact of breast cancer is significant, in 2022 alone, more than 144,000 people lost their lives to breast cancer, highlighting the urgent need for effective medicines.⁷
• There are four stages classifying breast cancer, stage I through IV, increasing in severity. Stage IV indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body, making it more difficult to treat.
• The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer varies in Europe between 70 - 90% depending on the stage of disease and countries. In high-income countries, approximately 10-15% of newly diagnosed breast cancer are in the metastatic stages, with this number rising in low- and middle-income countries.^8,9
• At diagnosis, important biological markers (also known as biomarkers) such as genes, proteins or other molecules on the cancer cells’ surface, can be identified to determine the subtype of tumour present in the patient to choose the most adequate course of treatment

Breast cancer biomarkers:

• Breast cancer treatment typically depends on the type and stage of the disease, often including surgery to remove the tumour and medication.

Breast cancer stages:

• Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, affects the stomach tissue. In Europe, it’s the ninth most common cancer and contributes to 3% of all new cancer cases.¹⁰ It is estimated that in 2022 there were over 135,000 new cases of gastric cancer, and 95,000 patients died from the disease.⁷
• Around 50% of gastric cancer cases are diagnosed late¹¹ – only once the cancer has spread to other organs, also called metastatic state. The use of different biomarkers and the existing targeted combination therapies can determine the most suitable course of treatments.¹²

• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women and accounts for 10.8% of new cancer cases. ¹⁰ In 2022 alone, there were over 484,000 new cases of lung cancer in Europe.⁷ Almost every second patient (52%) with lung cancer is already living with metastatic disease at the time of their diagnosis.¹¹
• Multiple biomarkers are associated with lung cancer and are key to classifying and determining the best treatment.¹³

Lung cancer biomarkers:

• Colorectal cancer affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum and is the third most common cancer in Europe.⁶
• Around 15-30% of patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer have metastatic disease, meaning the cancer has spread from the primary site of origin to different areas of the body.¹⁴ Up to half of colorectal cancer patients may eventually develop metastatic disease.¹⁴
• The most common treatment for colorectal cancer when the cancer has not spread, is to undergo surgery to remove the tumour. If the cancer has spread, patients are typically prescribed chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy.¹⁴

• Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells, which are essential to our immune system. Acute leukaemia means it progresses quickly and aggressively - usually requiring immediate treatment. Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive cancer of the myeloid cells, a type of white blood cell. This type of cancer is rarer, accounting for a small proportion of all new cancer cases, given an incidence rate 5.06 per 100,000 people in Europe.¹⁵ However, it has a low five-year survival rate of only 17%.¹⁵
• There are no effective screening tests for early detection of AML. Testing is usually initiated based on symptoms.¹⁵
• Chemotherapy remains the first line treatment for AML.¹⁵
• Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are an important development for AML patients. The first targeted therapy for AML, available since 2017, offers more effective treatment including improved survival outcomes and lower chances of relapse.¹⁶