Therapeutic areas

Breast cancer is a major health issue across the UK and Ireland.ⁱ Between 2017–2019 it was the 4^th most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with 55,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer reported in the UK every year between 2016–2018 and over 3,400 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Ireland.^i,ii

The treatment of breast cancer depends on where the cancer is, how big it is, whether it has spread anywhere else in the body, and a patient’s general health.ⁱⁱⁱ Typical treatment options may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone (endocrine) therapy, targeted cancer medicines and bone strengthening drugs.^iii,iv

Ipsen works to provide effective treatment options for women with breast cancer, including those looking to help prevent the return of their cancer once it is in remission.

ⁱCancer Research UK: Breast Cancer Statistics. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱIrish Cancer Society: Breast Cancer. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱⁱCancer Research UK: Breast Cancer Treatment. Accessed October 2023.
^ivCancer Research UK: Bisphosphonates and Cancer. Accessed October 2023.

Prostate cancer is the 2^nd most common cause of cancer death in males in the UK.ⁱ Between 2017–2019 there were around 12,000 deaths, accounting for 14% of all male cancer deaths in the UK, with 52,300 new cases reported in the UK between 2016–2018.ⁱ In Ireland, 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, with approximately 3,940 men diagnosed each year.ⁱⁱ

The treatment of prostate cancer depends on how big it is, where the cancer is and whether it has spread anywhere else in the body, and the patient’s general health. Typical treatments may include active surveillance and watchful waiting, surgery, external or internal radiotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and other options.^iii,iv

Ipsen support men with prostate cancer through the development of new therapies, including for patients whose cancer may have spread (locally advanced/metastatic).

ⁱCancer Research UK: Prostate Cancer Statistics. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱIrish Cancer Society: Prostate Cancer. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱⁱCancer Research UK: Treatment for Prostate Cancer. Accessed October 2023.
^ivCancer Research UK: Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer. Accessed October 2023.

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, accounting for over 80% of cases.ⁱ Between 2016 and 2018 there were 13,300 new cases of kidney cancer each year in the UK, with 4,700 deaths (2017–2019).ⁱⁱ In Ireland, almost 670 people each year are diagnosed with kidney cancer, with 9 out of 10 kidney cancers being renal cell cancer.^iii,iv

The treatment received depends on the stage of kidney cancer, its location and the patient’s general health.v A multidisciplinary team of doctors and other professionals will discuss the best treatment for kidney cancer patients, however surgery is the main treatment for kidney cancers that have not spread to another part of the body.^v

Ipsen’s focus is to primarily help deliver treatment options for people with renal cell carcinoma whose cancer has spread and is incurable.

ⁱCancer Research UK: Kidney Cancer – Types and Grades. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱCancer Research UK: Kidney Cancer Statistics. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱⁱIrish Cancer Society: Kidney Cancer. Accessed October 2023.
^ivIrish Cancer Society: What are the Types of Kidney Cancer? Accessed October 2023.
^vCancer Research UK: Kidney Cancer Treatment Options. Accessed October 2023.

A neuroendocrine tumour (NET) is a rare tumour that can develop in many different organs of the body.ⁱ It affects the cells that release hormones into the bloodstream (neuroendocrine cells).ⁱ The cause of NETs is not fully understood and the treatment is dependent on individual patient circumstances including where the tumour is, how advanced the patient’s condition is and the patient’s overall health.ⁱ

Surgery is the main treatment for NETs, other options include somatostatin analogues, targeted cancer drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.ⁱⁱ

Ipsen has sought to find solutions to help patients and doctors better manage NETs, including for cases where the disease may be indolent and require tumour and symptom control.

ⁱNHS: Neuroendocrine Tumours. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱCancer Research UK: NETs Treatment. Accessed October 2023.

Thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland and more commonly affects women than men.ⁱ Thyroid cancer is classified into medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).ⁱⁱ DTC is the most common type of thyroid cancer (~90% of cases) and is classified into papillary (most common), follicular and oncocytic (Hürthle cell) thyroid cancer.ⁱⁱ Thyroid cancer is the 20^th most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 1% of all new cancers (2016–2018)ⁱⁱⁱ. In Ireland, over 250 people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer every year.^iv

Surgery is the most common treatment for thyroid cancer, either completely removing the thyroid (total thyroidectomy) or partially (lobectomy or partial thyroidectomy). If the disease is more advanced a patient could be eligible for other types of therapy.^v

ⁱCancer Research UK: About Thyroid Cancer. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱCancer Research UK: Types of Thyroid Cancer. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱⁱCancer Research UK: Thyroid Cancer Statistics. Accessed October 2023.
^ivIrish Cancer Society: Understanding Thyroid Cancer Booklet. Accessed October 2023.
^vCancer Research UK: Treatment Options for Thyroid Cancer. Accessed October 2023.

Primary liver cancer is cancer that started in the liver.ⁱ There are 5 main types but hepatocellular carcinoma (also called hepatoma or HCC) is the most common type.ⁱ This type of liver cancer develops from the main liver cells called hepatocytes.ⁱ It’s more common in people who have a damaged liver from cirrhosis (scarring of the liver due to previous damage, such as from the hepatitis B or C virus or long term alcoholic drinking).ⁱ

Incidence rates for liver cancer are projected to rise by 6% in the UK between 2023–2025 and 2038–2040, leading to 9,700 new cases every year.ⁱⁱ In Ireland, around 370 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year, however the numbers of primary liver cancers increased by over 300% from 1994 to 2014.^iii,iv

ⁱCancer Research UK: Liver Cancer Types. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱCancer Research UK: Liver Cancer Statistics. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱⁱIrish Cancer Society: Primary Liver Cancer Booklet. Accessed October 2023.
^ivNational Cancer Registry Ireland: Cancer Trends No.31, Primary Liver Cancer. Accessed October 2023.

Blepharospasm is the name given to involuntary spasms of the muscles around the eyelids, causing the lids to flutter, blink or twitch uncontrollably.ⁱ The cause is unknown, but blepharospasm is normally more common in people over 50 years old and affects around 7,000 people in the UK.^i,ii In severe cases a person may be unable to open their eyes due to the excessive eyelid spasms.ⁱ

Ipsen’s research into this area looks to block the nerve impulse at the junction between the nerve and the muscle, reducing the uncontrollable muscular contractions of the eyelids.

ⁱGloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Blepharospasm. October 2023.
ⁱⁱDystonia UK: Eye Dystonia. October 2023.

Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect both co-ordination and movement.ⁱ It is caused by a brain problem that can develop before, during or soon after birth.ⁱ

The severity of the symptoms can vary significantly, with some experiencing minor problems and others being severely disabled.ⁱ When a baby is first born the symptoms of cerebral palsy are not usually obvious, however become noticeable during their early age.ⁱ

Currently there is no cure for cerebral palsy, however treatments are available to help people have independent and active lifestyles as much as possible.ⁱ

Ipsen’s work in the area of cerebral palsy helps to address some of the symptoms of this debilitating condition, with a focus on the treatment of spasticity in children.

ⁱNHS: Cerebral Palsy. Accessed October 2023.

Cervical dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterised by continuous or intermittent muscle contractions which cause abnormal, often painful, repetitive movements of the neck and head.ⁱ The movements can lead to the head and neck twisting (torticollis) or being pulled forwards (antecollis), backwards (retrocollis) or sideways (laterocollis).ⁱ

Ipsen supports the treatment of patients with cervical dystonia through medicines which act to block the nerve impulse between the nerve and the muscle, reducing the contractions.

ⁱDystonia UK: Neck Dystonia. Accessed October 2023.

Hemifacial spasm is characterised by intermittent, painless and involuntary muscle contractions innervated by the facial nerve.ⁱ Only one side of the face is affected, and it may start by only affecting the muscles around the eye before spreading to the entire half of the face.ⁱ

Treatments include blocking the nerve impulses between the nerves and muscles to reduce the muscle contraction and surgery.ⁱ

ⁱSt George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Hemifacial spasm. Accessed October 2023.

Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) incontinence is caused by an injury to the central nervous system.ⁱ Overactivity of the bladder wall muscle combined with impaired contractility of the muscle leads to overactive bladder symptoms including bladder distension from incomplete emptying and incontinence.ⁱ

Ipsen supports the treatment of patients with NDO through medicines which block the nerve impulse between the nerve and the muscle, reducing the contractions of the detrusor muscle.

ⁱRoyal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Neurogenic Bladder. 2021. Accessed October 2023.

Spasticity is a physiological condition where there is an abnormal increase in muscle tone or stiffness of muscle.ⁱ Spasticity is usually caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord and may typically occur following a stroke or head trauma.ⁱ The condition is also associated with cerebral palsy.ⁱ Spasticity can result in movement or speech interference and be associated with discomfort or pain.ⁱ

Ipsen has pioneered research in this area to develop treatments that aim to reduce muscular contractions.

ⁱBrighton and Sussex University Hospitals – Sussex Trauma Network: Spasticity. Accessed October 2023.

Acromegaly is a rare condition caused by excess production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, resulting in body tissues and bones growing more quickly.ⁱ

About 2–4 people in a million develop acromegaly each year in the UK.ⁱⁱ The condition can cause a wide range of symptoms, however acromegaly literally means ‘enlarged extremities’ with large hands and feet a typical feature, however there are many other symptoms which usually progress slowly over time, including thickened vocal cords, facial changes (e.g. thickened lips and nose) and enlarged tongue.ⁱⁱ

ⁱNHS: Acromegaly. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱPayne J.: Acromegaly. Accessed October 2023.

Precocious puberty refers to the onset of puberty at an abnormally early age; before age 8 in girls, and 9 in boys.ⁱ It is not always clear what causes early puberty, however it can be a familial tendency.ⁱ

Medical treatment for early puberty aims to address any underlying cause or reduce hormone levels to pause sexual development for a few years to avoid emotional or physical issues.ⁱ

ⁱNHS: Early or Delayed Puberty. Accessed October 2023.

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a rare inherited condition in which bile is unable to drain from the liver into the gastrointestinal tract.ⁱ As a result, bile acid builds up in liver cells (cholestasis) causing scaring and symptoms.ⁱ The global prevalence of PFIC is estimated between 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000 live births.ⁱ

The most bothersome symptom of PFIC is pruritus (itching), which may be so severe that it leads to skin mutilation, loss of sleep, irritability, poor attention and impaired school performance.ⁱⁱ

ⁱNICE Guidance HST17: 2. The Condition. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱSrivastava A. J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2014;4(1):25–36.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb (endometrium) is found outside the womb, such as in the ovaries and fallopian tubes.ⁱ It is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK, after fibroids.ⁱⁱ There is no definite cure for endometriosis, but treatments are available.ⁱ

Ipsen’s work in this area aims to relieve symptoms of the condition to prevent it interfering with daily life.

ⁱNHS: Endometriosis. Accessed October 2023.
ⁱⁱRoyal College of Nursing: Endometriosis Fact Sheet. Accessed October 2023.

Fibroids are benign growths of the womb and fibrous tissue, whose development is influenced by sex hormones, in particular oestrogen.ⁱ Around 2 in 3 women develop one or more fibroids in their lifetime.ⁱ They usually develop during a woman’s reproductive years from 16 to 50 and are thought to occur more often in overweight or obese women.ⁱ

Fibroids do not need to be treated if they are symptomless.ⁱ If a patient has symptoms then treatment will initially be aimed at them, but medications are available that shrink the fibroids themselves.ⁱ

Ipsen supports people affected by fibroids by finding ways to minimise symptoms and help patients live better lives.

ⁱNHS: Fibroids. Accessed October 2023.