South Africa hosts Pan-African cancer conference

Cape Town, 10 October 2008 -- Over 100 physicians from African and Middle Eastern countries met today at a conference in Cape Town, to discuss new developments in cancer research. The meeting, entitled, “Advancing the Clinical Continuum: From Clinical Trials to Patient Benefits” was hosted by Pfizer to bring together top physicians to discuss risk factors, importance of early detection and treatment options pertaining to cancer.

Cancer is a highly prevalent disease in Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2020, African states will account for over a million new cancer cases per year out of a total of 15 million cases worldwide1.

“In Africa, the increase in the incidence of cancer is very real and has been largely overlooked as the world has focused on controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria,” Prof Lydia Dreosti (Head of Oncology Department, Pretoria Academic Hospital).

Pfizer is focused on discovering, developing and bringing new treatments to cancer patients in Africa and worldwide. Pfizer's oncology R&D pipeline is robust and growing, with active programs across critical mechanisms of action related to tumour growth and spread, including angiogenesis inhibition, signal transduction inhibition, immunomodulation and cytotoxic potentiation.

Sunitinib(SUTENT®), an oral therapy, is a result of this R&D investment and was recently approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in South Africa2. It is a novel addition to a new class of “multi-targeted” anti-cancer drugs. It targets the tumour with a dual action strategy, by stopping the cancer cells from multiplying and cutting off the tumour's blood supply.


Sunitinib, also indicated for the treatment of unresectable and/or metastatic malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) after failure of imatinib mesylate2 , is being investigated for a number of other tumour types.

Since 2003, Pfizer has increased its number of oncology R&D projects by 400 percent and now dedicates 22% of its overall budget to oncology. The company has 22 oncology compounds in a total of 232 ongoing or planned, oncology clinical studies.

“We are seizing opportunities to strengthen Pfizer's research investment in oncology,” said Karl Lintel, Pfizer's Regional Director for Africa. “This meeting provides an important forum to discuss new treatments options for patients in Africa and the Middle East.”