Who wins from DNA sequencing? (Multi-target drugs)

First came the notion of specific inhibitors of kinase signaling, and Gleevec was originally the embodiment of the idea of inhibiting just a single gene fusion - BCR-ABL. With the fine targeting came low financial expectations - I recall NVS predicting that Gleevec could have annual revenues of as much as $200M. (Actually Gleevec annual revenues for NVS are ~$4B, both because they had most expectations of the market, and because Gleevec isn't so specific, which is a good thing.)

Then, Exelixis introduced the idea of intentional multi-kinase inhibition, though some wondered if this was less of a design intention, and more of a tolerance of the notion that complete specificity may be impossible.

Last year saw the introduction of FDA approval of inhibitors not just for a single gene target, but a specific mutation of a specific gene (e.g. Zelboraf for BRAF V600E, though it comes with certain problems.)

It appears that the next wave is being unleashed by Foundation Medicine - DNA sequencing to match drug to cancer and suggest mixes of drugs, where appropriate.

The conclusions put forward by Foundation Med are not novel in theory, but a very exciting in practice.

What is also exciting is how use of DNA sequencing may unlock new markets for existing drugs. Big Pharma, I think, has generally worried that personalized medicine may result in lower revenue ceilings for new drugs, thus tilting the economics of drug discovery out of favor. (Because it generally costs about the same to develop a blockbuster as it does a niche drug.)

But if the Foundation Med results are indicative of future broader results, the economics may become even more favorable. Case in point is Pfizer's Sutent, FDA approved in 2006, and a $1B blockbuster as of 2010, based on its' application in renal cell carcinoma and GIST (specific stomach tumors).

Foundation Med's research is suggesting that Sutent could be very effective in about 2% of all lung cancer patients. What's that means to Pfizer?

US annual lung cancer incidences: ~225,000
Worldwide (rough): 675,000
Sutent-beneficial lung cancers: 13,500 (worldwide)
Sutent treatment cost (rough): $40,000 per patient
Sutent lung cancer "niche" market potential: $540,000,000.
Pfizer price/sales ratio: 2.43x
Implied increase in Pfizer's stock value from the new lung cancer "niche:" $1.3B or a stock price about $.17 higher.

Realistically, Pfizer & Sutent can't capture all of that market, but finding another half-a-billion dollar market - with the hope for more - has got to be exciting to Pfizer. It should also be exciting to other targeted drug makers and researchers.

Also exciting is the notion that Foundation's research results are the tip of the iceberg - we can expect tumor DNA sequencing research to reveal more mutations and drug gable opportunities. Let's just hope that the FDA becomes much more flexible in approving novel sequence-specific applications (or at least tolerating widespread off-label use).