BioPharm
New DNA-targeting drug offers hope of pancreatic cancer treatment

In the UK, around 10,000 people a year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Though it’s not one of the most common cancers, it’s one of the most deadly. Survival rates have barely changed in 30 years, with just five per cent of patients making it past the five-year mark. But an innovative drug developed at UCL’s School of Pharmacy is offering hope of a new treatment option for pancreatic and other cancer patients.
“Drugs can fail at any point. If you look at pancreatic cancer, a large number of different types of drug therapy have been trialled over the past 10-15 years. And have almost all failed. So it’s very tough. But there’s everything to play for.”