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Updated: Nov 14, 2025

Author Spotlight: Developing Multiplexed Kinetic Assays for Organoid-Based Drug Response Analysis
Published on: January 5, 2024
Novel anticancer drugs approved in 2020
Jing Li1, Ruquan Wang1, Jianjun Gao1
1Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
In 2020, new molecular entities and biologics advanced anticancer drug development. Approved therapies included small molecule inhibitors, antibodies, and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) to combat cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Drug Development
Background:
- Cancer remains a significant global health threat with a substantial unmet clinical need for effective treatments.
- Anticancer drug research and development are crucial for improving patient outcomes and survival rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel anticancer drugs approved in 2020 across major markets (US, EU, Japan, China).
- To highlight key advances in molecular entities and therapeutic biologics for cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of drug approvals in 2020.
- Analysis of approved anticancer drugs, categorizing them by type (small molecule inhibitors, antibodies, antibody drug conjugates).
Main Results:
- The primary anticancer drugs approved in 2020 were small molecule inhibitors targeting oncogenes, antibodies, and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).
- These approvals represent significant progress in targeted cancer therapy and biologic drug development.
Conclusions:
- The approved anticancer drugs in 2020 demonstrate a trend towards targeted therapies and advanced biologic agents.
- Future anticancer drug development is expected to focus on novel agents with enhanced target specificity and mechanisms to overcome drug resistance.
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