We have just received a visit from Dr. Jordi Rodón, Head of MD Anderson Houston's Early Stage Drug Development Unit. Dr. Rodón is an expert in early drug development, biomarker discovery, personalized cancer medicine and Neuro-Oncology.
The MD Anderson Cancer Center Spain Foundation Clinical Trials Unit works closely with its MD Anderson Houston counterparts, who have provided advice and been supervising the Unit's work since its inauguration.
An example of this was the visit this week of Dr. Jordi Rodón, head of the MD Anderson Houston Early Stage Drug Development Unit. The doctor specializes in early drug development, biomarker discovery, personalized cancer medicine, and Neuro-Oncology.
Since the Unit was launched in 2021, 1,064 patients have been recruited and 373 trials have been conducted. At the present, there are 68 trials underway at the Unit, of which 27 are phase I, the most complex, but which are essential for the testing of potentially effective molecules.
We took the opportunity to chat with Dr. Rodón and to evaluate the work at the Unit over recent years.
How would you assess the evolution and the work that has been conducted at the Clinical Trials Unit since its inauguration?
Dr. Rodón: This is my first visit, but I did come here before COVID to see the Oncology department and to work with Dr. Enrique Grande, the Head of your Medical Oncology Service. There have been some notable changes recently in the commitment to research and innovation, with the development of the Phase I Unit, a space dedicated specifically to cancer research. In the world of Oncology, clinical trials are increasingly being called not simply Phase I, but rather early development therapies, as the line between Phase I and Phase II is becoming increasingly blurred. The drugs that tackle these phases are getting better, benefiting patients more, with very innovative therapies now available. This is now not just a Clinical Trials Unit, but a full commitment to innovation in the field of therapy.
What sets MD Anderson's Clinical Trials Unit apart in terms of innovation and excellence compared to other units?
Dr. Rodón: I think it's something you don’t see immediately, because it happens more behind the scenes: that commitment to quality. The quality of samples and data is something that pharmaceutical companies greatly appreciate. When the data is well collected, it obtains a certain level of prestige that then allows access to more drugs and innovative studies. This prestige takes time to develop, but once you achieve that level, your reputation then begins to grow among the various sponsors - which ultimately translates into very rapid expansion and indirectly works to the benefit of patients of course, because you have more studies and better results. In other words, the investment in quality is essential.
Tell us a bit about the exchange of knowledge and experiences between MD Anderson Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid –Hospiten?
Dr. Rodón: We are in a world in which innovation in pharmacology is highly atomized, with increasingly large studies, and knowing the small biotech market well is vital.
As an example, we are currently studying the possibility of developing cell therapy and the use of radiopharmaceuticals, which are boom areas with a lot of potential. Cell therapy is a rapidly growing topic, although there are still very few centers that can carry it out. Another more complex area is that of radiopharmaceuticals, although here we have seen a significant advance as represented by the approval of a drug for prostate cancer, which has significantly boosted its development.
Nowadays there are plenty of new drugs of this type available, and this could open a new area of opportunities. However, currently relatively few centers have the capacity to implement them. Our collaboration allows us to have a head start of 6 to 8 months over other centers that do not enjoy this vision.
What role do emerging technologies, genomics and immunotherapy play in current clinical trials?
Dr. Rodón: Immunotherapy is not new, it has produced many successes in the past, but there is still plenty to work on, partly because of what has happened in the last five years. We now have a much deeper understanding of the three protein dimensions on mutation.
Having a top grade precision medicine and tumor frequency program gives one access to the new wave of drugs that may turn out to be significantly better than the ones we already have. Participating in second or third-generation drug studies, thanks to precision medicine, is the key.
What role is artificial intelligence playing in these developments?
Dr. Rodón: Artificial intelligence will end up specializing in specific areas. There will not be one great algorithm; but rather artificial intelligence that can match patients with genetic studies or profiles with certain types of medication. It will also have a role to play in drug design and clinical trial efficiency, but these are still developing areas. One of its most direct applications now is the use of “digital twins”, which allows a comparison between patients with rare conditions treated with a drug and those who have not received it. Regulatory bodies such as the FDA are starting to recognize this method.
Do you think that in the future we might see clinical trials for all therapeutic areas of cancer? Will there be more research opportunities?
Dr. Rodón: It's a bit of a roller coaster. Until very recently, the so-called ‘rare’ cancers received a lot of attention, but we are now tending to focus on the more frequent diseases, in part because of changes in the FDA and in US healthcare policies. However, immunotherapy has facilitated the development of tumor type-independent drugs. There is also a new generation of medicines, such as antibody conjugates with a cytotoxic agent, that work well in rarer diseases, expanding the possibilities of oncology treatment. Let us just say that the definition of a rare disease in oncology is not a very strict one. For example, certain types of melanoma are still considered a rare disease.
How are exchanges organized between the teams here and those in Houston?
Dr. Rodón: We are getting the exchanges going again, after the pandemic, so that the Houston teams can also come over here. I am newer to this role, Dr. Vivek Subbiah used to do it. A lot can be done remotely these days, making collaboration easier. We are currently looking at dates for more Houston team members to come over and strengthen these ties. In addition, we are soon expecting a visit from Dr. Fabio Franco, head of the Testing Unit in Madrid, at our center.
It is a pleasure to have you here with us. Thank you very much, Doctor.
Dr. Rodón: Thank you.