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06:14
Automating Tumor Implantation in Zebrafish Larvae for Cancer Research and Medicine
Published on: September 19, 2025
Interview with Jürg Zimmermann, global head of oncology & exploratory chemistry at Novartis
1Novartis Pharma AG, Postfach, Basel, Switzerland. juerg.zimmermann@novartis.com
Future Medicinal Chemistry
|March 24, 2011
Abstract:
Dr Jürg Zimmermann is the inventor of the drug imatinib (Gleevec(®), Glivec(®)), which entered the market in 2001 and revolutionized the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. He talks to Future Medicinal Chemistry about his career as a medicinal chemist, current issues in pharmaceutical R&D and his experiences of developing Gleevec, the first protein kinase to get onto market.
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Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
02:56Treatment Resistent Cancers
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
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The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
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