World leader in manufacturing of oncology products – Amgen (USA), has come to the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine.

According to UNIAN reporter, the news was informed at the Symposium “Vectibix (Panitumumab): New Horizons in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment”, that took place in Kiev on 28 October 2010.

According to Jesse Sibarium, Amgen Senior Manager, Emerging Europe, Turkey and Israel (Zug, Switzerland), when taking a decision about coming to Ukrainian market, Amgen considered experience of our specialists in the field of oncology, and basis for clinical studies.

Видео дня

“We knew about Ukraine’s vast experience, especially in the oncology field, and good basis for clinical studies.  And if we have a look at the statistical data, it becomes clear that there are patients in Ukraine who really need this.  We consider it to be a good time”, said Jesse Sibarium.

He informed, that pharmaceutical company Delta Medical has become an exclusive partner of Amgen.  “We have been looking for a potential partner in Ukraine for quite a long time, and considered many companies.  Every company had its strong and weak points, but Delta Medical had several distinctive advantages.  First of all they have already developed very strong system of work in Ukraine and region.  They have very good team.  Delta Medical specialists know how to work with professionals of oncology field.  That is important advantage for the partner,” – said Jesse Sibarium.

In his turn, Aleksey Kovalev, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Oncology Department of Zaporozhye Medical Academy of Postgraduate Studies (Zaporozhye, Ukraine), said that Ukrainian oncology society was ready to accept and to use in practice high biotechnologies.

“Potential of our doctors is very high.  Ukraine is ready to use the innovative methods of cancer treatment.  With regard to the economic readiness, the problem exists, but it also exists even in the countries with the developed systems of health care and economy.  Treatment is expensive. But effectiveness or ineffectiveness of treatment depends not only and not fully on economic aspect, but it depends even more on the presence or absence of innovative ideas.  From this point of view Amgen develops and successfully implements such scientific ideas. And all this makes the practicing doctors very optimistic”, underlined A. Kovalev.

He also expressed the opinion, that today, after decades of development, fundamental oncology directly influences the practicing medicine.  “Today doctors, as never before, need the achievements of fundamental theoretical oncology.  Usage of Vectibix and its clinical effectiveness are the best proof of the above said”, said professor.

Jan-Hendrik Terwey Amgen, Therapeutic Area Head Oncology, Emerging Europe, Turkey and Israel (Zug, Switzerland) informed that Amgen is planning to continue the clinical studies of antitumor products in Ukraine.  “First clinical study was conducted in Ukraine in 2001, later we had two more projects.  We have found that there was very professional work conducted in Ukraine in this field, and we feel ourselves in reliable hands.  Amgen plans and hopes to continue clinical studies in Ukraine.  There are some problems, but we seek for solutions.  I have an optimistic approach – we will surely find solutions for all problems”, stressed in his speech Mr. Terwey.

Salvatore Siena, Professor, the Falck Division of Medical Oncology, Ospedale Niguarda Ca’ Granda (Milan, Italy), told about timeliness of Amgen’s know-how.  “This company was the fist to introduce innovations in the field of biotechnologies.  The most innovative products in the world were developed in Amgen.  Amgen is one of 4-5 world pharmaceutical companies, that offer powerful weapons to fight cancer”, said S. Siena.

Information

Amgen is a leading human therapeutics company in the biotechnology industry. For more than 25 years, the company has tapped the power of scientific discovery and innovation to advance the practice of medicine.

Amgen pioneered the development of novel products based on advances in recombinant DNA and molecular biology and launched the biotechnology industry’s first blockbuster medicines. Today, as a Fortune 500 company serving millions of patients, Amgen continues to be an entrepreneurial, science-driven enterprise dedicated to helping millions of people fight serious illness: cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis etc.

Delta Medical is one of the most dynamic companies in the CIS and Ukrainian pharmaceutical markets. Among the Company’s partners are more than 40 world-known pharmaceutical enterprises.

Today there are more than 300 innovational products in Delta Medical portfolio: medical preparations and goods of medicinal destination, cosmetics and medical equipment.

Statistical data on oncology diseases in Ukraine (2008-2009)

Extract from Bulletin of the National Cancer-Register of Ukraine # 11 “Cancer in Ukraine, 2008-2009”

Morbidity and Mortality in Ukraine in 2008:

Number of registered cases of malignant tumors in 2008:  161 414

Number of registered deaths caused by malignant tumors in 2008: 85 200

Crude marker of mortality in 2009 (for population of 100 thousand people): 184,5

World mortality standard (for population of 100 thousand people): 108,3

Morbidity and Mortality in Ukraine in 2009:

Number of registered cases of malignant tumors in 2008:  152 499

Number of registered deaths caused by malignant tumors in 2008: 82 079

Crude marker of mortality in 2009 (for population of 100 thousand people): 178,6

World mortality standard (for population of 100 thousand people): 108,3