Every February 4th, the World Cancer Day with the aim of putting the focus on this fight and reducing the number of preventable deaths each year through raising awareness among the population.
Content offered by:
But one of the things we must understand is that, when we talk about cancer, we are not talking about a single disease, but rather more than 200 different pathologies are included under this name. According to International Agency for Research on Cancer In 2020, approximately 18.1 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the world, and this same report predicts that this number will increase in the next two decades to 27 million.
Cancer in Spain
For years, cancer has been one of the main concerns of the Spanish health system, being the second cause of death after diseases of the circulatory system. According to Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN), the total number of estimated incident cases in 2022 was 280,100, of which 160,066 are in men and 120,035 in women.
These figures are expected to continue increasing and it is estimated that in Spain in 2040 the incidence will reach 341,000 cases. Despite these data, survival has increased up to 55% in cancer patients in our country. This increase in hope is due to several factors, from the degree of effectiveness of prevention policies to the combination of growing knowledge in molecular biology and the appearance of novel diagnostic tests. In the last two decades, the support of the pharmaceutical industry has facilitated the development of advanced therapies such as biological therapies, immunotherapies or cellular therapies. These advances in personalized treatment in many types of cancer have provided more survival and a better quality of life.
BMS, advancing in innovation
Innovation plays a fundamental role in the fight against cancer, and for this, the support of the pharmaceutical industry is necessary. An example of this, Bristol Myers Squibb has been researching oncology for almost 30 years to advance innovation and transform the lives of patients. As a result of this effort, more than a decade ago the pharmaceutical company changed the treatment paradigm of oncology with immunotherapy, which has led them to become leaders in immuno-oncology. Alfredo Alonso, director of Oncology at BMSexplain what “It is a pride to contribute to the advancement of science. At BMS we work tirelessly with an unwavering commitment to innovation to ensure that all people with cancer have a better future.”.
In this sense, it should be noted that the pharmaceutical company is a leader in 3 key areas: cell therapy, immuno-oncology and protein degradation. Its commitment to the fight against cancer has materialized with a diverse pipeline, demonstrating long-term survival benefits in different types of tumors. Bristol Myers Squibb also works to address the earliest stages of cancer in the pre- and post-surgical settings and has demonstrated the benefit of immunotherapy in the earliest stages in 4 types of resectable tumors: melanoma, non-squamous non-small cell lung, and bladder cancer. and esophageal. But, in addition to improving patient survival and quality of life in tumors where the effectiveness of its drugs has already been proven, the company is investigating different indications and new oncological treatments to address the unique and changing needs of patients. “This is possible”adds Alfredo, “Thanks to advances in technology and diagnosis that allow us to take advantage of translational medicine, data analysis and artificial intelligence to know how we can bring the right medicine to the right patient and at the right time to achieve the best result”.
Prevention, the first step
In addition to focusing on research and development of therapies in the fight against cancer, the pharmaceutical company is concerned with carrying out actions that help prevent serious diseases. Physical exercise is key to leading a healthy life and contributing to physical and mental well-being. Some research points to physical exercise as a possible adjuvant treatment with an impact on the development, growth or spread of tumors. In addition, the latest studies show that people with a more active life and who exercise regularly have a lower risk of suffering from certain types of cancer.
Taking this into account, the company has launched the campaign ‘The science that moves us’, with the aim of promoting sport and physical activity in society and in patients with serious diseases such as cancer. And, as Alfredo Alonso points out, “There is no better treatment than prevention and sport is a great ally to prevent diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes”. This initiative was born to improve the health and life of society, focusing especially on patients with diseases such as cancer and young people, since, by educating society, we will be investing in a healthier future.
As Alfredo Alonso explains, “We are defined by a strong legacy and leadership in innovation, being pioneers in the search for a cure against cancer and supporting patients beyond treatments”.