Science

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. As the population ages, the urgent need for effective cancer treatments will continue to increase. Abbott is investing in cancer therapies that may change the way the disease behaves.

Enhancing the effectiveness of cancer therapies

Chemotherapies and radiation are designed to damage and destroy the DNA of cancerous tumor cells. However, tumor cells are often able to overcome this damage and repair themselves. PARP (Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitors interrupt the DNA repair process in tumor cells and may enhance the effectiveness of current cancer therapies. Abbott’s PARP inhibitor is being studied in a variety of combination regimens and cancer types, including breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic melanoma and colorectal cancer.

“Flipping a switch” in cancer cells

In order to survive, cancer cells disable their own self-destruct mechanism to multiply and spread. Our Bcl-2 family protein antagonist is the first in a new class of drugs that attack cancer cells in a fundamentally new way. Compared to conventional chemotherapy, it works by seeking to trigger a “switch” in cancer cells, causing them to die. Abbott is studying Bcl-2 inhibition in a variety of cancer types, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small cell lung cancer.

Cutting off the blood supply to tumors

Cancer cells multiply rapidly. Our multitargeted kinase inhibitor seeks to cut off the blood supply to a tumor to stop the progression of cancer. The compound is in clinical trials for solid tumors such as liver cancer, colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 180 million people worldwide. Abbott scientists are developing medicines that may increase cure rates, shorten treatment duration and improve tolerability.

Developing a best-in-class combination treatment for HCV

HCV can lead to long-term complications, including severe scarring of the liver, liver cancer or death. There is a great need for better tolerated treatments that will more consistently lead to a cure of the HCV infection. Abbott is conducting research in multiple therapeutic classes that block HCV viral replication with the ultimate goal of developing best-in-class treatments.

Our discovery and development of protease inhibitors for the treatment of HIV serves as a scientific foundation for our HCV research. Abbott currently has three HCV compounds in human trials, spanning multiple mechanisms of action, with additional compounds in pre-clinical development. Abbott is well positioned to explore combinations of these new therapies, a strategy with the potential to markedly transform current treatment practices by shortening therapy duration, improving tolerability and increasing cure rates.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease and occurs when arteries that supply blood to the heart are narrowed by plaque. Abbott is developing new devices that address CAD and its related symptoms.

Next-generation DES: designed to promote faster healing

Millions of drug-eluting stents (DES) are implanted each year. Abbott’s Xience Prime DES capitalizes on the proven clinical benefits of Xience V and is designed to improve deliverability and access to long lesions. We’re also working on an ultrathin stent technology that seeks to promote faster healing and help physicians deliver the stent more easily to further reduce the risk of vessel injury.

Bioabsorbable stent: designed to heal then disappear

Abbott’s fully bioabsorbable drug-eluting stent currently in development does the job of a metallic DES — it improves blood flow to the heart. But unlike a metallic DES, it’s absorbed into the vessel wall over time — much like sutures are absorbed after securing a wound. Abbott has the most advanced bioabsorbable clinical program in the industry, with an opportunity to reach the market years ahead of competitors.

MitraClip system: repairing the heart’s mitral valve without invasive surgery

Mitral regurgitation (MR) occurs when there is abnormal leaking of blood through the heart’s mitral valve, which can lead to irregular heartbeats, heart failure and stroke that can cause serious complications, including death. Open-heart surgery is the current treatment for MR. The MitraClip system allows minimally invasive repair of the mitral valve to reduce MR. It’s available in Europe and is under FDA review in the United States.

Autoimmune diseases impact millions of people worldwide. A group of more than 80 chronic and often disabling illnesses, they develop when underlying defects in the immune system lead the body to attack its own organs, tissues and cells.

Building on Humira

With six approved autoimmune indications, Humira is a leading biologic therapy. Our scientific experience developing this first fully human recombinant monoclonal antibody serves as a strong foundation for our research in immunology. In addition to evaluating Humira for additional potential indications, we’re researching a number of promising therapeutic platforms — both biologic and small-molecule — to address a wide range of conditions.

Opening new treatment possibilities with combination biologics

While small molecules can be combined into one therapy, combining biologics that target multiple disease pathways has been a significant scientific challenge. Abbott scientists were the first to invent a new technology called DVD-Ig (dual-variable domain immunoglobulin). This technology could lead to combination biologics for complex conditions, such as cancer or autoimmune disorders, where multiple pathways are involved in the disease. The ultimate goal of DVD-Ig technology is to improve the efficacy of current biologic treatments.

Abbott has an early-stage pipeline of innovative treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and chronic pain — conditions that impact millions of patients worldwide.

Treating pain in new ways

Chronic pain affects more than 70 million people in the United States and Europe and is the most common cause of long-term disability. It’s estimated that up to 30 percent of patients receive inadequate pain relief with currently available therapies. New therapies are needed that combine efficacy with improved safety and tolerability. Abbott is pursuing a number of approaches in pain research across a broad spectrum of pain states.

In 2009, Abbott expanded its early-stage pain portfolio with an anti-Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) biologic for chronic pain. This compound seeks to inhibit NGF, which is believed to play a significant role in the transmission of pain. The mechanism has the potential to offer better efficacy and tolerability and require fewer doses than traditional pain medicines.

Slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, communicate and perform daily activities. While current therapies may help patients maintain cognitive abilities or control symptoms, they do not change the progression of the underlying disease. Abbott has a number of compounds targeting different therapeutic classes in early development.

More than 15 million procedures are performed each year to remove cataracts, the world’s leading cause of blindness. Abbott is developing next-generation lens technologies to deliver optimal vision to patients of all ages.

Changing focus

Abbott markets a broad line of vision care products, including state-of-the-art lenses to improve vision following cataract surgery. Our innovative Synchrony accommodating IOL is designed to mimic the eye’s natural ability to change focus, potentially eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. Synchrony is available internationally and is currently in clinical development in the United States.

Cleaning lenses better

For the more than 100 million contact lens wearers worldwide, clear and clean lenses mean being free to actively pursue life’s daily activities. Abbott is developing a next-generation multipurpose disinfecting solution designed to help contact lens wearers maintain optimal corneal health through state-of-the-art disinfection and all day comfort, in a single, convenient bottle.