What’s the deal

Today, the International Brain Tumor Awareness Week is in its midst. From October 26 to November 2, light is shed on the associated difficult conditions and we’d thought to look into the very aggressive form of cancer, glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is a type of brain tumor. In 2019, there will be approximately 23,420 incidences of glioblastoma, and it’s expected to rise by 23.3% across the US, Japan, EU5 and China by 2037. Glioblastoma is a difficult disease to treat, although therapeutic options are increasing. As the number of cases is growing, however, the need for new therapies follows creating a major demand for improved drugs.

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme, is the most aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord. These malignant grade IV tumors are formed from astrocytes, cells dedicated for supporting nerve cells. Due to the location of the tumors, glioblastomas are very hard to treat and there is no real cure. The current standard treatments for adults with glioblastoma only allow for a survival rate of 11-31 months, depending on age and type of glioblastoma.

What causes glioblastoma and what are the risk factors?

The majority of glioblastomas occur without any inherited genetic factors, but rather randomly. One known risk factor for developing glioblastoma is prior radiation exposure to the neck and head area, such as those having undergone radiation therapy for leukemia, fungal infections of the scalp, or other types of brain cancer.

References:

1. Informa (2018) Glioblastoma (GBM). Epidemiology. June 2018. [Online] [Accessed 25 Oct. 2019] https://service.datamonitorhealthcare.com
2. GlobalData (2018) Global glioblastoma market set to reach $1.4bn by 2027. [Online] Available at: https://www.globaldata.com/global-glioblastoma-market-set-reach-1-4bn-2027/ [Accessed 25 Oct. 2019]
3. Analysis by MSC based on data from Medtrack (Available with paid subscription)
4. US Securities and Exchange Commission. Exhibit no. 99.1 to form 6-K. Available at: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1704292/000156459018022999/zlab-6k_20180912.htm [Accessed 25 Oct. 2019]
5. PRNewswire (2017). CytRx Corporation Announces Global Strategic License With NantCell Inc. For Aldoxorubicin, An Albumin Mediated Chemotherapeutic [Online] Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cytrx-corporation-announces-global-strategic-license-with-nantcell-inc-for-aldoxorubicin-an-albumin-mediated-chemotherapeutic-300495897.html [Accessed 25 Oct 2019]
6. Globe Newswire (2017). Advaxis and SELLAS Announce Licensing Agreement for Development of WT1 Antigen-Targeting Immunotherapy [Online] Available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/02/27/927969/0/en/Advaxis-and-SELLAS-Announce-Licensing-Agreement-for-Development-of-WT1-Antigen-Targeting-Immunotherapy.html [Accessed 25 Oct 2019]

The month of October is liver disease awareness month, and this week we want to shed light on the liver disease non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, also known as NASH. NASH is a sub-group of the very common non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Approximately 26.2 million people are currently diagnosed with NASH, and the numbers are expected to rise by a drastic 63% by 2030.^1,2 Although a huge number of the world’s population suffer from NASH already, there are currently no approved therapies on the market for this disease. With a rapidly increasing market potential, and a growing pipeline of drugs in clinical stages, the race to the finish line is on.

What is NASH?

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is a condition where the buildup of fat in the liver causes liver inflammation and damage. It’s part of a larger group of liver disease known as non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Without treatment, the disease progresses, causing more damage leading to liver scarring, and can eventually lead to cirrhosis.

What causes NASH and what are the risk factors?

The exact reason behind why some people with a buildup of fat in the liver develop NASH and others don’t is unknown. There are, however, several known risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high triglycerides and metabolic syndromes. NASH is more common in people over the age of 40 that also has one or more of the known risk factors.

References:

1. Informa (2019) Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Epidemiology. July 2019. [Online] [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019] https://service.datamonitorhealthcare.com
2. Estes, C. et al., Modeling the epidemic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease demonstrates an exponential increase in burden of disease. Hepatology, 2018. 67(1): p. 123-133.
3. Informa (2019) Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Forecast. July 2019. [Online] [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019] https://service.datamonitorhealthcare.com;
4. Analysis by MSC based on data from Medtrack (Available with paid subscription)
5. Boehringer Ingelheim (2019). Boehringer Ingelheim Expands Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) R&D Pipeline With New First-in-Class Compound from Yuhan Corporation [Online] Available at: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/press-release/collaboration-yuhan-corporation-nash [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019]
6. GENFIT (2019). GENFIT and Terns Pharmaceuticals Announce $228M Strategic Partnership to Develop and Commercialize Elafibranor in Greater China [Online] Available at: https://www.genfit.com/press-release/genfit-and-terns-pharmaceuticals-announce-228mm-strategic-partnership-to-develop-and-commercialize-elafibranor-in-greater-china/ [Accessed 16 Oct 2019]
7. Takeda (2017). Takeda and HemoShear Therapeutics Enter into Exclusive Drug Discovery Partnership in Liver Diseases [Online] Available at: https://www.takeda.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2017/hemoshear2/ [Accessed 16 Oct 2019]