Open-source drug discovery to clinical proof of concept for neglected cancers
For cancers too rare or too poor to attract companies, run drug discovery in the open, the way neglected tropical diseases are tackled, and take candidates to first human trials with public money.
Paediatric cancers, rare adult cancers and cancers concentrated in low-income countries (Burkitt lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma, oesophageal squamous cancer in East Africa) receive little industry investment. The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative delivered new treatments through open, partnered development. The proposal is an oncology equivalent: open target selection, shared compound libraries, contract chemistry and preclinical development, patent-free or non-exclusive licensing, and public or philanthropic funding through phase 2, with generic manufacturers engaged early.
- Rare and paediatric cancers without markets · Taken together rare cancers are a fifth of all cancers, but each one alone is too small for a company to invest in.
- Funding follows fashion, not burden · Money goes to the cancers and questions that are easy or popular, not the ones that kill most or where a dollar would do most.
- Secrecy and intellectual property block collaboration · Companies with complementary drugs rarely test them together, and data that could answer questions stays locked up.
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not linked directly; found by shared links- IdeaPay a prize for rare cancer drugs instead of hoping for a market
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- PersonTerry Fox
Shares Funding follows fashion, not burden, Rare and paediatric cancers without markets, Sarcomas (soft tissue, bone, GIST).
- IdeaAn international consortium pooling the outcome of every treated child with cancer
Shares Neuroblastoma (paediatric), Rare and paediatric cancers without markets, Sarcomas (soft tissue, bone, GIST).
- IdeaEscrow a share of adult revenue until the paediatric study is done
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- IdeaOne global paediatric cancer development plan instead of separate FDA and EMA plans
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- IdeaPartial lottery funding for good proposals in under-funded cancers
Shares Funding follows fashion, not burden, Oesophageal cancer, Sarcomas (soft tissue, bone, GIST).
- TrialNaxitamab Study 201
Shares Neuroblastoma (paediatric), Rare and paediatric cancers without markets.