Byondis - Microweg 22

After cardiovascular disease, cancer is the deadliest disease on earth, accounting for about 10 million annual deaths worldwide in 2020, according to The World Health Organization (WHO). Life without cancer is a matter of good genes, good food, good air, good health – and good luck. But most people don’t have all that. It is here that science has to do the heavy lifting, and it is why Clinical Trials Day is so important.

Some cancers are preventable. About one third are caused by viral infections, such as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) (cervical cancer) and hepatitis B (liver cancer). Fortunately, we have affordable and effective vaccines that can reduce transmission of these viruses and therefore cancers.

Lung cancer ranks six on the global death list and smoking is mainly responsible. But securing a smoke-free society is an uphill battle.

About half of all cancers are not preventable by any means according to current insights. And cancer is a multi-headed monster. Chopping off one or two of them does not help. We need novel and personalized medicines that act with surgical precision to kill these evil cancer cells – all of them, whether they are actively dividing, dormant, hidden in niches or sanctuary sites, or protected from recognition by an ingenious masquerade.

Dedicated scientists all over the world are working around the clock to develop novel drugs to realize this goal. However, before facing the enemy in real life with our new armamentarium, we must first work out a tactical battle plan to prove our strategy’s effectiveness. How to find our way?

The compass is the clinical trial protocol written by clinical trial specialists. Trial professionals also mastermind the wagonload of other documents for execution of the clinical study. And that is not all. Initiation of the study at trial sites is often followed by painstaking management of unforeseen conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Creativity, endurance, dedication and hard work are required.

Let’s also appreciate the hospital study teams of doctors, nurses and other team members, who have the difficult task of supporting patients and relatives 24/7, while also managing trial procedures and all the nitty gritty details. And most importantly, we recognize the patients who consent to participate, despite the big uncertainties they are dealing with. We are deeply grateful to all of these participants who are helping to improve the standard of care for future patients!

Recently, two patients with advanced cancer were treated with our HER2-targeting cancer drug SYD985. To make this happen, the study drug was carefully prepared by the hospital pharmacy and transferred to the clinical team at the ward. Details of the drug’s administration and health of the patients were thoroughly noted in the trial dossier and swiftly communicated to the involved research organization. The patients received dedicated follow-up.

Standard clinical research practice? Not when you consider that this took place in early March in Ukraine, a troubled country going through a major crisis. The dedication of all involved is heartwarming.

It is fitting then, that we take today, Clinical Trials Day, to honor all the patients and healthcare and clinical trial professionals who help turn scientific discoveries into life-saving medicines.