Drug makers chase cancer stem cells

As evidence implicating stem cells in cancer mounts, drug makers are taking notice. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) formed a strategic alliance with OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, of Redwood City, California. The deal gives GSK an option to license four of OncoMed's antibody candidates developed to target cancer stem cells, one of which is scheduled to enter clinical trials. The GSK-OncoMed pact is the first major deal focused on cancer stem cell which is undergoing explosive growth. The problem is that not everyone even believes that targeting cancer stem cells will yield therapeutic benefits. The chief safety concern with targeting cancer stem cells, is that these mAbs might also attack normal stem cells that replenish damaged tissues. The main thing is to ensure that we eliminate the malignant cancer stem cells only without affecting the normal stem cells.