Beating Cancer Is Still An Everything-But-Easy Challenge That Pharmaceutical Companies Cannot Solve Overnight

On Tuesday, Merck Group revealed an unexpected decision to end a Phase III trial of its cancer drug Xevinapant. This move threatens to undermine confidence the research abilities of the Darmstadt, Germany-based company that is not related to the U.S-based Merck & Co MRK.

Merck & Co continues its quest to end cancer.

Meanwhile, Merck & Co just reported first-time positive data for its antibody-drug conjugate therapy aimed at lung and breast cancer patients from its open-label Phase II trial.

At the beginning of June, Merck also released more good news from its three-year study evaluating the effectiveness of the experimental vaccine it developed with Moderna Inc MRNA combined with its blockbuster immunotherapy drug Keytruda in treating melanoma patients. For Keytruda, Merck already has the approval to treat melanoma along with other cancer as it is designed to evade a specific protein that helps cancer evade the immune system. But, Moderna and Merck also plan to file for expedited approval with the FDA for their experimental vaccine on the grounds of bringing a treatment for life-threatening conditions that fills an unmet medical need. Back in February, Moderna and Merck vaccina received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for the treatment of melanoma that is responsible for the large majority of skin cancer death. The Phase III trial began last July while Merck is also conducting another Phase III trial of the vaccine in patients diagnosed with a type of lung cancer. Merck and Moderna are conducting a phase II trial in certain patients with a type of kidney cancer as well, along with astudy on patients diagnosed with a type of bladder cancer.

Yet, there is little talk about revolutionizing prevention.

While trials and most cancer research revolves around revolutionizing treatment, there is still little being done for improving prevention and early diagnostics. A much smaller molecular genetic diagnostic solutions company specialized in life-threatening conditions, Mainz Biomed N.V. MYNZ, has dared to tackle this challenge. Mainz Biomed already commercialized its flagship product, a non-invasive at-home colorectal cancer test, ColoAlert across Europe. It is now getting ready for its pivotal FDA clinical study for US regulatory approval. At the beginning of June, Mainz Biomed presented revolutionary results from its ColoFuture and eAArly DETECT studies that emphasized the benefits of its innovative approach that used the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), proprietary mRNA biomarkers and an advanced AI and machine learning algorithm. With these tools, Mainz Biomed succeed to achieve CRC sensitivity of 92%, along with 82% sensitivity for advanced adenomas which are a known cancer precursor, allowing treatment to prevent the development of the cancerous state. The next-generation test also showed 95.8% detection of high-grade dysplasia that can potentially develop to invasive cancer if left untreated. Therefore, Mainz Biomed promises to make a revolutionary and life-saving step of preventing colorectal cancer altogether, while it continues to develop another test for pancreatic cancer, named PancAlert.

For more than five decades, modern medicine has been unsuccessfully trying to beat cancer. But, it seems scientists are putting technology development to good use by finally trying something new as early detection has proven to be its worst enemy that provides greatest odds of victory.

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