Cancer Immunotherapy- New Paradigm in Cancer Treatment
February 23, 17:00, Hotel Tbilisi Marriott held a Scientific Conference “Cancer Immunotherapy – New Paradigm in Cancer Treatment”. The conference was organized by Pharmaceutical Company Roche Georgia and connected to the introduction of the innovative Immunotherapy drug onto the Georgian Pharmaceutical market.
Special Speaker Professor Lasar Popovich, MD, PhD, from Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Serbia, was invited to participate in the conference. The conference was attended by representatives of the Health Care System and media.
The new drug is the first approved anti-PD-L1 agent in Cancer Immunotherapy designed to target and bind to a protein called PD-L1 which is expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells and may enable the activation of T cells, restoring their ability to effectively detect and attack tumor cells. Drug is approved for the treatment of people with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer.
“Roche is the global leader in Oncology and pioneer in development of Personalized Health Care (PHC). The aim of PHC is to provide right treatment to right patient at right time. The new cancer immunotherapy drug is the part of PHC” - comments Nino Ganugrava, Medical Director of Roche Georgia. According to her in the past decade cancer therapy has seen revolutionary research advances. But until recently Bladder Cancer had not seen any major advances for more than 30 years. “We are delighted that Roche’s immunotherapy drug was approved in both advanced bladder and advanced lung cancer. We believe that with this innovative treatment, patients will live longer and better”
About Bladder Cancer
Metastatic bladder cancer is associated with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Until recently this disease had not seen any major advances for more than 30 years. Bladder Cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide, with 430,000 new cases diagnosed in 2012, and it results in approximately –165,000 deaths globally each year. Men are three times more likely to suffer from bladder cancer than women
About non-small cell lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally. Each year 1.59 million people die as a result of the disease; this translates into more than 4,350 deaths worldwide every day. Lung cancer can be broadly divided into two major types: NSCLC and small cell lung cancer. NSCLC is the most prevalent type, accounting for around 85% of all cases
About Roche
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalized healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.
Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Roche has been recognised as the Group Leader in sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry nine years in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).
The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2016 employed more than 94,000 people worldwide. In 2016, Roche invested CHF 9.9 billion in R&D. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.