cancer

Pfizer's cancer drug Sutent and Novartis's drug Afinitor have both been found to be effective against the rare form of pancreatic cancer that Apple CEO Steve Jobs was diagnosed with in 2004, according to two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

To get potentially lifesaving drugs to patients faster, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowed to approve some drugs -- those that address unmet medical needs -- based on fewer trials than usual. But it turns out that many of the pharmaceutical companies fail to conduct follow-up trials to prove the drugs work.

Sanofi-Aventis announced its cancer drug candidate iniparib failed in a late-stage clinical trial. Other pharmaceutical companies have also experienced recent setbacks as they scramble to bolster their pipelines ahead of the patent cliff, when they will be forced to compete with cheaper generics.

Lpath focuses on developing therapeutics that target bioactive lipids for treating a range of human diseases, including cancer and diseases that cause blindness. Its promising drugs have attracted attention -- and lots of money -- from Pfizer. More of both could be coming.

A New York City health code regulation set to go into effect on Jan. 1 would have added some disturbing images to the Big Apple's glittering background of advertising: Hideously accurate ads depicting the results of smoking. But a federal judge this week killed the city's anti-smoking campaign before it could begin.

The U.S. biotech is holding an analyst and investor meeting focused on the commercial potential of its multiple sclerosis drug Campath. The goal: to convince Paris-based Sanofi-Aventis to raise its hostile takeover offer in a battle that has now gone on for five months.

As pet cancer increases and pricier treatments become available, the cost of keeping a pet healthy is on the rise. DailyFinance writer Jonathan Berr shares the story of his family dog Ruby's bout with cancer. How much are you willing to spend on your best friend?

Wyeth Pharmecuticals on Wednesday lost its appeal of a decision that awarded $58 million in damages to three women who claimed the company's hormone-replacement drugs caused their breast cancer. The news could bode badly for the Pfizer-owned company, which has thousands of such cases pending.

Supposedly "green" cleaners may not be as green as you think. You're probably being exposed to chemicals even if you're using presumably eco-friendly household cleaners, laundry detergents, air fresheners or personal-care products around the house, a new study suggests. Some of those chemicals are...

Novartis will discontinue studies of an experimental lung-cancer cancer drug because of disappointing trial results.