Pfizer Inc announced as part of its commitment to oncology that it expects to start a total of seven phase III studies in 2008; two are open and enrolling, and five are planned to begin by the end of 2008.

These trials involve three different compounds: Sutent, axitinib and CP-751,871, and will focus on 4 types of cancers - hepatocelluar (HCC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and prostate cancer. Pfizer made these announcements during a company meeting with financial analysts during the Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.

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.

Since 2003, Pfizer has increased its number of oncology R&D projects by 400 per cent and now dedicates 22 per cent of its overall budget to oncology. The company has 22 oncology compounds in a total of 232 ongoing or planned, sponsored, oncology clinical studies.
"We are seeing our sustained efforts in oncology mature as our development programs continue to advance into late-stage clinical trials," said Dr Charles Baum, vice president of Pfizer Global Research and Development.

In March 2008, Pfizer established the Oncology Business Unit, focused solely on oncology within its Worldwide Pharmaceutical Group. The unit will bring together global oncology functions including clinical development, sales, medical and marketing. It will enable Pfizer to expedite launches of novel oncology agents, as well as to focus research efforts on cancers common in Asia, including those of the liver, esophagus and nasopharynx.

"Pfizer is making good on its promise to leverage the best science outside of our walls to develop medicines to help patients in areas of high unmet medical needs. Our significant research investment in oncology and recent business development transactions, including four in the last six months alone, illustrate that point," said Garry Nicholson, senior vice president, general manager of Pfizer's Oncology Business Unit.