Small cell lung cancer is the most aggressive type of lung cancer, characterized by its rapid growth and its tendency to spread rapidly to other parts of the body, as unfortunately occurs in 70% of cases at the time of diagnosis.
“The name ‘small cell’ refers to the size and shape of cancer cells seen under a microscope, generally small and rounded,” he explains. J.osé Antonio López-VilariñoOncology Manager PharmaMara Spanish biotechnology company, which has this type of lung cancer as one of its most relevant lines of research.
Small cell lung cancer accounts for 13% to 15% of all lung cancer diagnoses. In Spain, around 4,500 new cases are diagnosed each year. “Its aggressive nature and its diagnosis in advanced stages represent great challenges for patients and medical staff, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapies and early detection strategies to improve prognosis,” says López-Vilariño.
Today, on the occasion of World Lung Cancer DayLópez-Vilariño highlights that “we also have a social challenge, to increase the visibility of this type of cancer, which, despite its frequency and mortality, perhaps does not receive the attention it deserves.”
The need for innovation in the treatment of small cell lung cancer has been recognized in various initiatives, such as the national plan for Recalcitrant Cancer Research 2012 in the United Stateswhich promoted research into cancers with low survival like this one.
López-Vilariño comments that “in recent years, new therapeutic possibilities have emerged.” New drugs and strategies have arrived, such as the combination of chemotherapy with immunotherapy, which have shown positive results. However, much research is still required to continue improving clinical outcomes.
Marine origin
«At PharmaMar we have been committed to patients with rare cancers and with limited treatment options for almost 40 years, through the research, development and commercialization of innovative therapies of marine origin. This commitment is reflected in our investment in R&D, with more than 83 million euros allocated to oncological research in the last year, we are the Spanish company that allocates the highest percentage of sales to R&D.
Pharmamar is currently participating in two phase III clinical trials focused on small cell lung cancer. “We have recently learned of the preliminary results of one of these trials and they show a statistically significant improvement in the main objectives of the study,” says the expert, highlighting the role of innovation in addressing this very complex pathology.
One of the main particularities of PharmaMar is its focus on research into marine compounds for the development of cancer treatments. López-Vilariño explains that the company is committed to sea as a therapeutic platform because this ecosystem “harbors a still unexplored potential.”
With 80% of global biodiversity, the oceans are a rich source of organisms that could offer compounds effective antitumor drugs. So far, PharmaMar has three drugs approved to treat four types of cancer, an achievement that reflects the potential of the sea in oncology.
However, developing innovative treatments for rare and aggressive cancers such as small cell lung cancer is not without challenges. As a mid-sized biotechnology company, PharmaMar faces several challenges, from the complexity of clinical trials – due to the limited number of patients and the aggressiveness of the disease – to high development costs and limited patent protection terms.
López-Vilariño emphasizes that “the significant investment in research depends on a regulatory framework that protects innovation.” The economic sustainability of these projects is crucial to ensure that research and development efforts translate into effective treatments.
Despite this, López-Vilariño concludes, PharmaMar demonstrates that the commitment to research and innovation It is the only way to deal with small cell lung cancer. “Its focus on compounds of marine origin and its constant investment in R&D show a commitment to advance in areas of oncology that still have unmet medical needs.”
In it World Lung Cancer Daythe message is clear: increasing visibility, promoting early detection and continuing research are essential actions to combat this aggressive cancer.
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