In the pharmaceutical business, the development and sales of drugs that help patients live longer is a big business. The UK prescription drug company Eli Lilly has appointed a new President of their oncology department. Oncology is the study of cancer. The position goes to Sue Mahony who has been with the company for ten years and was the senior vice president of diversity and human resources. The former president of oncology John Johnson resigned for family and personal reasons. The restructuring is big news in the pharmaceutical world.
Drug companies spend a great deal of time in developing drugs that aid cancer patients treat the deadly disease. Clinical trials and research play big roles in innovating new cancer drugs that can help patients live longer. Many cancers like liver cancer, prostate cancer and mesothelioma have high mortality rates and many pharmaceutical companies aim to keep patients healthy longer.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that has seen little improvement in the mortality rates of its sufferers. Unlike many cancers whose direct cause is hard to determine, contraction of mesothelioma is caused by exposure to the naturally occurring but harmful building material asbestos. Asbestos was widely used until the 80’s when the dangers of this material were discovered. This cancer affects the lining of the heart and lungs and is usually fatal. Most treatments can help patients live a little longer. The median survival rate for those who contract mesothelioma is 10 to 13 months.
