Pancreatic Cancer on the Rise: Promising Treatment in Development by Oncolytics Biotech

Younger adults and women are increasingly being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer deaths by 2030. The incidence of pancreatic cancer among those under 55 is rising rapidly, with a record 66,440 Americans expected to be diagnosed this year. Pancreatic cancer is a tough one to treat, with a five-year survival rate of just 13% and most people being diagnosed in a late stage when it has already spread. The global pancreatic cancer market is projected to reach $7.4 billion by 2032, with medical research focused on earlier detection and better treatments.

Oncolytics Biotech Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is developing pelareorep, an immunotherapeutic agent to fight pancreatic cancer. Pelareorep has shown promising results in phase 1 and 2 studies, with the potential to extend survival times and improve tumor response rates. The company is conducting the GOBLET study to test pelareorep in advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal cancers, with a new cohort focusing on newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients.

Oncolytics Biotech recently dosed the first patient in the expanded cohort, marking a major milestone for the company. The trial is being closely watched for the promise the treatment holds, potentially impacting the lives of pancreatic cancer patients and broadening the population who could benefit from pelareorep-based therapies.