Pancreatic cancer is increasingly affecting women and younger adults, not just those traditionally considered at risk, such as smokers and individuals over 55. Alarmingly, the incidence of pancreatic cancer among those under 55 is increasing more rapidly than in older populations, according to a study published in The Lancet.
Currently the third leading cause of cancer deaths, pancreatic cancer is projected to become the second leading cause by 2030, surpassing colorectal cancer. This year, approximately 66,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with about 51,750 expected to die from the disease. The five-year survival rate remains a dismal 13%, largely due to late-stage diagnoses when the cancer has already metastasized.
Given the challenges in treating pancreatic cancer and its rising incidence, significant research efforts are focused on early detection and advanced treatments. The global market for pancreatic cancer treatments is expected to reach $7.4 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7%.
Immunotherapies represent a promising area of treatment. These therapies enhance the body's immune system to attack cancer cells more effectively. Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in immunotherapeutics for oncology, is at the forefront of this research. The company's leading agent, pelareorep, has shown promising results in phase 1 and 2 studies. This intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent stimulates anti-cancer immune responses and transforms “cold” tumors into “hot” tumors, making them more susceptible to treatment.
Pelareorep is being tested in the GOBLET study, a phase 1/2 trial conducted at 17 centers in Germany. The study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pelareorep in combination with other treatments for advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal cancers. Recently, the study was expanded to include a new cohort testing pelareorep with modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX), a chemotherapy regimen, with or without atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) in newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. This expansion is supported by a $5 million Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Therapeutic Accelerator Award.
Oncolytics Biotech recently dosed the first patient in this expanded cohort, marking a significant milestone. The combination of pelareorep, atezolizumab, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel has shown potential to more than double tumor response rates compared to chemotherapy alone. This combination has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA and is expected to be evaluated in an adaptive registration-enabling trial through the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR).
If pelareorep and mFOLFIRINOX demonstrate promising efficacy, it could lead to multiple pancreatic cancer treatment regimens moving toward registration. This development could significantly broaden the population of metastatic pancreatic cancer patients who could benefit from pelareorep-based therapies.
Dr. Matt Coffey, President and CEO of Oncolytics, emphasized the company's commitment to improving the lives of cancer patients. “The ability to improve the lives of cancer patients is something that motivates everyone at Oncolytics, and beginning to treat pancreatic cancer patients in the mFOLFIRINOX cohort of GOBLET is hopefully yet another step towards that goal,” Coffey said.
