Current EU rules do not incentivise pharmaceutical companies to test cancer drugs in children, even though some childhood cancers have similar genetic and biochemical properties to some adult cancers. Children with cancer are missing out on potentially effective treatments, because pharma companies can gain exemptions from testing cancer drugs in cancer patients under the age of 18.
The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), is calling for changes to the current system in the EU, to encourage pharma companies to test more of their drugs in children.
Speakers:
Professor Alan Ashworth, Chief Executive, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
Professor Gilles Vassal, President of the Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer consortium and Head of Clinical Research, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
Dr Louis Chesler, Team Leader in Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Honorary Consultant, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust