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The figure of 1.16 trillion US dollars for the global cost of cancer is an impressive number that illustrates the enormous economic burden caused by this disease. That's how much cancer costs worldwide - Pharma Facts (pharma-fakten.de)
These costs are made up of various factors that go far beyond the immediate medical expenses. Direct medical costs include expenses for diagnostics, such as imaging procedures and biopsies, as well as for treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Added to this are the costs of medication, hospital stays and often lengthy follow-up care. But the economic impact of cancer goes even further. Indirect costs arise from productivity losses due to absenteeism and early death resulting in a loss of labor. The care provided by relatives, who often have to reduce their own employment, also contributes to these indirect costs. A significant portion of the total costs goes into research and development of new drugs and therapies, as well as clinical trials. These investments are essential to improving treatment options and ultimately saving lives. Not to be forgotten are the expenses for preventive measures such as screening programs and educational campaigns aimed at detecting cancer early or preventing it altogether. The high costs also explain why the development of new cancer drugs is being pursued so intensively. Last year alone, 12 new cancer drugs were approved: "Last year, 12 new cancer drugs came onto the market – one in three new drugs available in this country is an oncological preparation. And the high pace is set to continue this year. This is important news. Because a cancer diagnosis is not only a difficult fate for each individual affected. Tumour diseases cost trillions worldwide." 1 160 000 000 000 US dollars: That is how much cancer costs worldwide - Pharma Fakten (pharma-fakten.de)
Every new effective drug can potentially not only save or extend lives, but also reduce overall costs through more effective treatments.
The market was estimated to be worth around 200-250 billion US dollars in 2023 and is expected to continue to grow significantly in the coming years. The drivers of this growth are the general aging of the population, an increasing incidence of cancer and new therapies such as immuno-oncology and targeted therapies, such as nanoparticle technology or new nanoparticle formulations.
The global oncology market
The global oncology market is one of the most significant and dynamic sectors of the pharmaceutical industry. With an estimated value of 196.8 billion US dollars in 2023, it is expected to grow to around 268.3 billion US dollars by 2028, which corresponds to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. Report on the market size and share of clinical trials in oncology, 2030 (grandviewresearch.com
The innovation push in the field of cancer is immense
The ever-improving understanding of genetic processes makes a more targeted characterization possible. The hope: so-called “tumor-agnostic agents”. Tumor-agnostic agents represent a paradigm shift in cancer therapy. In contrast to conventional cancer drugs, which are developed for specific types of cancer or organs, these agents target certain genetic alterations or molecular features that may be present in different types of cancer. “The prerequisites are a solid tumor, an advanced or metastasized tumor stage, and detection of the relevant biomarker.” What is tumor-agnostic cancer therapy? | DKFZ - Cancer Information Service
- Targeted effect: They attack specific molecular targets, regardless of the tumor's original tissue.
- Broad spectrum of application: A single agent can potentially be used in different types of cancer.
- Personalized medicine: Treatment is based on the genetic profile of the tumor, not its location.
- Efficacy in rare cancers: They offer treatment options for cancers that previously had few targeted therapies.
- Expedited development: Because they may be effective across multiple cancers, they can often be developed and approved more quickly.
Tumor-agnostic agents represent a significant advance towards more precise and personalized cancer treatments that have the potential to improve outcomes for many patients. That's because cancer claims nearly 10 million lives worldwide each year.
Almost ten million people (9.6 million) die each year as a result of their cancer. Official website of World Cancer Day by UICC | 4 February
One third of global cancer cases could be prevented – 27 percent are due to the effects of tobacco and alcohol use. Another third could be cured if the cancer were detected early and treated appropriately.
According to a recent report, “a total of €3.2 billion was spent on cancer research in Europe in 2004, an increase of 38% over the previous two years. Slightly more than half of this sum comes from government and the rest from charitable organizations.” Study shows: spending on cancer research is increasing (europa.eu)
In the face of one of the greatest challenges of our time, the treatment and cure of cancer, medicine has made enormous progress in recent years.
"Intensive research in oncology has led to a better understanding of why and how tumors develop, grow, spread and, last but not least, how these processes can be slowed down or even prevented. The medications and therapies developed as a result of this research have turned utopia into reality: survival rates have increased significantly for almost all types of cancer. After a cancer diagnosis, patients today live about six times longer with a good quality of life than they did 40 years ago." Cancer and its costs – Roche.de
The statistics for the most common cancers in men and women – prostate cancer and breast cancer – already clearly show the positive development:
"In the early 1970s, for example, only 62 out of 100 men with prostate cancer survived the first five years after their diagnosis; today the figure is 93 out of 100. According to current statistics from the Robert Koch Institute, the five-year survival rate for women with breast cancer is now 88 percent, while it was only 65 percent between 1970 and 1974 (1). https://www.vfa.de/de/wirtschaft-politik/artikel-wirtschaft-politik/krebsmedikamente-ueberlebenszeiten-steigen-ausgaben-bleiben-stabil.html
Nevertheless, the WHO assumes that the “number of cancer cases worldwide [...] will increase rapidly by 2050”. “According to the WHO, by up to 77 percent. The main causes: smoking, alcohol, obesity and air pollution.” WHO expects 77 percent more cancer cases by 2050 | tagesschau.de
The market is dominated by a few large pharmaceutical companies:
- Roche: Leader in breast cancer therapy
- Novartis: Strong in leukemia treatment
- Bristol-Myers Squibb: Pioneer in immuno-oncology
- Merck: Known for important immunotherapeutics
- AstraZeneca: Focus on lung and breast cancer
- Pfizer: Broad portfolio in various cancer types
These companies invest billions annually in research and development of new cancer therapies. World Preview 2023: Pharma's Age of Uncertainty | Evaluate
These are the regional markets worldwide:
- North America: Largest market with about 45% of the total market
- Europe: Second largest market, about 25% market share
- Asia-Pacific: Fastest growing market, especially China and India
In 2023, global pharmaceutical sales of cancer drugs amounted to around 227 billion US dollars. “For 2025, pharmaceutical sales of around 273 billion US dollars are forecast in the oncology therapy class.”
Pharmaceutical market - pharmaceutical sales in the oncology therapy class | Statista
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Krisen, Kriege und wirtschaftliche Unsicherheit sorgen derzeit weltweit für Nervosität an den Börsen. Doch genau in solchen Zeiten entstehen oft die besten Chancen. Für mutige und strategisch denkende Anleger kann das die Gelegenheit sein, günstig einzusteigen, bevor sich die Lage wieder beruhigt. Denn häufig gilt an der Börse: Große Gewinne entstehen oft dann, wenn andere noch zögern.
Dabei richtet sich der Blick zunehmend auf einen Sektor, der unabhängig von konjunkturellen Schwankungen durch einen strukturellen Wachstumstreiber geprägt wird: die Onkologie. Krebs zählt weltweit zu den führenden Ursachen für Morbidität und Mortalität. Nach einer aktuellen Analyse der „International Agency for Research on Cancer” (IARC), der Weltgesundheitsorganisation, könnte die Zahl neu diagnostizierter Krebserkrankungen bis 2050 um mehr als 75 Prozent steigen. Global Cancer Observatory+3Weltgesundheitsorganisation+3The Lancet+3
Kein Wunder also, dass staatliche und private Investitionen in Forschung und Entwicklung in den letzten Jahren zugenommen haben, was sich unmittelbar in Förderprogrammen und intensivierten Kooperationen zwischen akademischen Einrichtungen und der Industrie widerspiegelt. Ein Paradebeispiel dafür dürfte Onco Innovations Ltd. (ISIN: CA68237C1059 / WKN: A3EKSZ) sein. Im Zentrum des Unternehmens steht eine patentierte Nanopartikel-Plattform der zweiten Generation, flankiert von einem Portfolio aus fünf “Krebspatenten”. Der therapeutische Fokus liegt auf der Behandlung von Fernmetastasen bei sporadischem Darmkrebs, einem medizinischen Bereich mit hohem ungedecktem Therapiebedarf. Dass Branchenschwergewichte wie „AstraZeneca Canada” eine Kooperation eingegangen sind und „Roche” eine Studie mitfinanziert hat, verleiht dem Frühphasen-Unternehmen wissenschaftliche Glaubwürdigkeit und dürfte die Grundlage für künftige Lizenzvereinbarungen legen.
Das Marktumfeld spielt dem Unternehmen dabei in die Hände:
Der globale Onkologiemarkt in den USA soll bis 2032 auf rund 479 Milliarden USD anwachsen. Allein das adressierbare Segment für Darmkrebstherapeutika wird auf rund 18 Milliarden USD geschätzt. Zahlen allein schaffen indes noch keinen Unternehmenswert, entscheidend ist vielmehr, ob ein “Biotech” die klinische Entwicklung operativ glaubwürdig vorantreibt:
Bei Onco Innovations Ltd. (ISIN: CA68237C1059 / WKN: A3EKSZ) verdichten sich die Hinweise darauf, denn das Unternehmen treibt seine klinische Entwicklungsstrategie sichtbar voran: Mit der Gründung einer eigenen Tochtergesellschaft in Australien und einer Kooperation mit “RDI Partners” stellt das Unternehmen die Weichen für die geplante “Phase-I-Studie”. Australien gilt in der Branche als attraktiver Standort für frühe klinische Programme, nicht zuletzt wegen effizienter Genehmigungswege und potenzieller steuerlicher Anreize. Onco Innovations Ltd. (ISIN: CA68237C1059 / WKN: A3EKSZ) baut damit eine belastbare Infrastruktur auf, um die “First-in-Human”-Entwicklung operativ und finanziell kontrolliert voranzubringen. Für Investoren könnte dies ein weiterer Schritt sein, der das Unternehmen näher an die klinische Umsetzung und damit an einen entscheidenden Werttreiber führt.
Nach einer Phase der Konsolidierung verdichten sich bei der Aktie Hinweise auf einen möglichen Turnaround. Für risikobewusste Anleger könnte sich damit eine aussichtsreiche Trade-Opportunity eröffnen.
