Glioblastoma Research Gets Major Boost as Funding and Pharma Interest Surge

Glioblastoma Funding Skyrockets as this Condition Raises Concern Among Nonprofits

Announcement

According to research, glioblastoma is a life-threatening brain cancer that is difficult to treat. The recent acquisitions by Merck and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, along with the development of innovative trials, indicate a redesigned support to generate effective treatments for this severity. Considering that close to half of all primary malignant brain tumors, the median survival rate of glioblastoma (GBM) patients is 14.6 months. It has been observed that a few therapists have been consistently working excellently with this condition thoroughly for the last 20 years. The two drugs have been introduced and effectively emerged in this time, named ‘temodar’ (temozolomide) by Merck and ‘avastin’ (bevacizumab) commercialized by Roche.

Later, it was noticed that the lack of progress in considering new treatments was not exactly due to a lack of effort, as there were around 1,500 registered glioma trials between 2006 and 2021.

A Start to Positive Change

The deals and investments revived the pharma’s long-lost trial failures and investments in it. Merck acquired Modifi Biosciences, which is generating DNA modifications to provide cancer therapeutics, also for GBM, involved in a deal valued at up to $1.3 billion last October. This year in March, Jazz showcased Chimerix for $925 million to gain access to the biotech’s diffuse glioma candidate. Jazz is expecting an FDA decision for the dordaviprone drug by this month.

Meanwhile, this table-turning demonstrates that there are no limits to creative treatments when conditions exceed their limits. In the difficult scenarios without any access to this steadily emerging capital, GBM researchers have centralized and the area has witnessed growth in various methods to contribute to early-stage research for new innovative GBM treatments.

Views and Statements

Co-executive director of innovate GBM, Yash Thukral, said in his statement, “When the big pharma walks out, then institutional investors walk out too because there’s no other option for them. If an institution doesn’t invest in the idea, then retail investment is not possible. So, the companies that are working in the space don’t receive much capital and end up being forgotten in the big pharma race.”

Science Engagement manager at Cancer Research UK (CRUK), Marianne Baker said, “Considering the location of the tumors and the biology of the brain, it is obvious that there are different types of cells and these grow tumors quickly, which makes it difficult to treat. The real challenge is these tumors are not visible and so not addressed quickly, which makes it difficult to treat this condition accurately and fully.”