Pancreatic cancer: From insidious symptoms to high mortality

November 16th is World Pancreatic Cancer Day, which is celebrated throughout the month in order to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of recognizing the symptoms of cancer, and in the pharmaceutical industry to increase efforts to find adequate therapy.

In terms of frequency, pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common malignancy in the world. Mortality due to this malignancy is constantly increasing. It is estimated that the number of deaths in Europe will increase by more than 40 percent by 2040, mainly among the population in their eighth and ninth decades of life.

In terms of mortality rate, it is 4th in Serbia

According to data from the Batut Institute of Public Health, in 2021, 1.566 new cases of pancreatic cancer were registered in Serbia. According to the mortality rate, it is 4th in both sexes, while in frequency it is 7th in women and 5th in men.

The exact causes of pancreatic cancer have not yet been discovered. Several factors are known to increase the risk of the disease. Among them are: smoking (including smokeless tobacco), family history of this disease, mutations in certain genes, excess body weight, type 2 diabetes.

Development of new therapies

Faced with alarming data, Servier company continues to invest intensively in the research of new therapies for oncological diseases, including pancreatic cancer. Through cooperation with leading scientific institutions, Servier works with partners on innovative technologies, which include the so-called development of digital twins.

The development of new therapies is being done within the Symphogen company in Denmark, which represents the center for the development of monoclonal bodies, that is, in the research and development center in the USA. The goal is to contribute to the success of treatment, the quality and prolongation of life of those suffering from this serious disease.

At the global level, Servier works on innovative therapies in four areas: oncological, cardiometabolic, immuno-inflammatory and neurological diseases and invests as much as 20 percent of its total turnover in research and development of new drugs, half of which is in oncology products.

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