Advancements in Cancer Therapy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Targeted Approach to Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

A collaborative research initiative has identified chemical compounds that selectively inhibit a key cancer-driving pathway. This breakthrough, which targets the interaction between the RAS gene and the PI3K enzyme, represents a significant step toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by developing a more precise and less harmful cancer treatment. The potential therapy is now advancing to human clinical trials, aiming to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases like cancer.

The Scientific Challenge and Innovative Solution (SDG 9)

The RAS gene, which is mutated in approximately 20% of all cancers, triggers uncontrolled cell growth. Historically, therapeutic efforts to block the RAS pathway have been hampered by significant side effects, as the targeted enzymes are also crucial for normal cellular functions, such as insulin signaling. This new research, a prime example of scientific innovation as outlined in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), overcomes this obstacle.

• Researchers identified small molecules that bind to the PI3K enzyme at a site adjacent to its RAS interaction point.
• This binding specifically prevents RAS from activating PI3K, thereby halting the cancer growth signal.
• Crucially, the compound allows PI3K to continue its other essential physiological roles, mitigating the risk of adverse effects like hyperglycemia.

Pre-Clinical Efficacy and Broader Therapeutic Potential

Testing in animal models has demonstrated the compound’s effectiveness and safety, reinforcing its potential contribution to SDG 3. The study yielded several key outcomes:

1. Tumor Growth Inhibition: The compound successfully halted the growth of RAS-mutated lung tumors in mice.
2. Safety Profile: Treated mice showed no signs of elevated blood sugar, a critical safety benchmark.
3. Synergistic Effects: When combined with other drugs targeting the same pathway, the treatment produced a more potent and durable anti-tumor response.
4. Expanded Application: The compound also proved effective against tumors with HER2 mutations, which are common in breast cancer, suggesting its utility across a broader spectrum of cancers.

Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) and Clinical Progression

This discovery was made possible through a strategic partnership between the Francis Crick Institute, a research organization, and Vividion Therapeutics, a private-sector entity. This collaboration exemplifies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which encourages public-private partnerships to achieve sustainable development objectives. The research has now progressed to a Phase 1 human clinical trial to assess the drug’s safety and efficacy in patients with both RAS and HER2 mutations. The trial will further explore its effectiveness in combination with other targeted therapies, moving this innovative science from the laboratory toward a potential global health solution.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s primary focus is on a major health issue: cancer. It details the discovery of a new chemical compound designed to treat a wide range of cancers by targeting the RAS gene mutation, which is present in “roughly one in five cancers.” The entire narrative, from the scientific discovery to the initiation of human clinical trials, is centered on advancing medical science to improve health outcomes and combat a major non-communicable disease.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  This goal is addressed through the article’s emphasis on scientific research and technological innovation. The discovery is described as a result of combining “chemical screening with biological testing” and is hailed as “a great example of how new discovery approaches can open up completely novel ways to tackle cancer.” This highlights the role of advanced scientific research and innovation in creating new industrial applications, specifically in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article explicitly mentions that the breakthrough was the result of a “collaborative effort” between two distinct entities: the Francis Crick Institute, a research institution, and Vividion Therapeutics, a private company. This public-private (or non-profit/private) partnership was crucial for combining fundamental biological research with chemical screening and drug development, demonstrating the effectiveness of multi-stakeholder partnerships in achieving scientific and health-related goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

     The article directly relates to this target by describing a potential new treatment for cancer, a primary non-communicable disease. The research aims to develop a drug that can “stop tumor growth” and provide “stronger and longer-lasting tumor suppression.” If successful, this treatment would significantly contribute to reducing mortality from cancers linked to RAS and HER2 mutations.

  2. Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases…

     The entire article is a case study for this target. It details the process of scientific discovery, from identifying small molecules to testing them in mice and finally moving the “potential treatment… into its first human clinical trial.” This represents a significant step in the research and development pipeline for a new medicine targeting a non-communicable disease.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  1. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation…

     The work described is a prime example of enhanced scientific research and innovation. The article highlights the “power of understanding chemistry and fundamental biology” and the use of novel discovery approaches to create a highly specific compound. This innovation, developed through a partnership between a research institute and a therapeutics company, directly contributes to upgrading the technological capabilities of the biomedical industry.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…

     The success of the research is explicitly attributed to the partnership between the Francis Crick Institute and Vividion Therapeutics. The article states, “Our collaborative effort has overcome this challenge,” demonstrating a successful public-private partnership that leverages the unique strengths of each organization—the fundamental biological research of the Crick Institute and the chemical screening expertise of Vividion—to achieve a common goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 3.4 (Reduce mortality from NCDs)

  The article implies progress towards the official indicator (3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cancer) through preclinical results. The statements that the treatment “stopped tumor growth” and “produced stronger and longer-lasting tumor suppression” in mice serve as preliminary indicators of the drug’s potential effectiveness in humans, which would ultimately contribute to reducing cancer mortality.

• For Target 3.b (Support R&D of medicines)

  A direct indicator of progress is mentioned: the drug “has now entered the first clinical trial in humans.” This is a critical milestone in the R&D process for any new medicine, signifying that the research has advanced from the laboratory to human testing, a key step towards eventual approval and availability.

• For Target 9.5 (Enhance scientific research)

  The publication of the study in the high-impact journal Science is an indicator of significant scientific achievement and contribution to the body of knowledge. Furthermore, the development of a novel compound that “permanently attach[es] to the surface of PI3K” represents a tangible output of successful research and innovation.

• For Target 17.17 (Promote public-private partnerships)

  The existence and success of the collaboration itself serves as a qualitative indicator. The article details how the “collaborative effort” between the Francis Crick Institute and Vividion Therapeutics led to the discovery and advancement of the new compound to clinical trials, showcasing a functional and effective partnership model.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sciencedaily.com