It is looking to be a good year for oncology, as new targeted therapies and drug cocktails make their debut on their market and healthcare providers increasingly come to view the specialty as a profit center. Expect the annual meeting of the American Association of Society Clinical Oncology this week in Atlanta to generate a steady stream of stories about new potentially "revolutionary" approaches and noteworthy study findings. The New York Times spotlights the increased visibility of traditional big pharma companies in the oncology market, usually dominated by the biotech players.
- read this New York Times article for more
PLUS: Of course, not everybody is happy about what is seen as a trend toward more aggressive (and expensive) treatment for patients who may not benefit from it. A study led by Dr. Craig Earle of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute concludes that the number of patients who receive chemotherapy in the last two weeks of life is rising. Article