Nearly 400 New Cancer Treatments Being Developed, PhRMA Survey Finds

There are currently 399 cancer treatments in development, representing new uses for existing medicines and potential breakthrough treatments, according to a survey commissioned by PhRMA.

The treatments include 62 for lung cancer, 49 for breast cancer, 50 for prostate cancer and 35 for colorectal cancer, according to PhRMA's annual biopharmaceutical research survey. Other treatments target kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, brain cancer, skin cancer and ovarian cancer.

"The survey shows that research into possible cancer cures and treatments is today being conducted by 178 biopharmaceutical companies and by the National Cancer Institute," PhRMA said in a statement.

The new treatments include a breakthrough colorectal cancer treatment that is the first-approved treatment to prevent new blood vessels from forming and providing tumors with oxygen and nutrients; a medication to treat non-small cell lung cancer that inhibits the formation and growth of tumors; and the first treatment in a new class of drugs to prevent acute delayed nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.