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Brain Cancer

Oncology
12
Pipeline Programs
16
Companies
14
Clinical Trials
1 recruiting
0
Approved Products

Pipeline by Development Stage

Preclinical
Phase 1
Phase 1/2
Phase 2
Phase 2/3
Phase 3
On Market
0
5
2
4
0
1
0
Early DiscoveryClinical DevelopmentMarket

Drug Modality Breakdown

Small Molecule
444%
Monoclonal Antibody
444%
Vaccine
111%
+ 10 programs with unclassified modality

Oncology is a $53.9B market in consolidation, dominated by a handful of megacap players with blockbuster franchises approaching patent expiration.

$53.9B marketConsolidating→ Stable30 products15 companies

Key Trends

  • Heavy patent cliff exposure (REVLIMID $3.9B LOE 2028, JAKAFI $1.9B LOE 2028)
  • Kinase inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents dominate spend; limited diversification in top 10
  • Clinical trial volume remains exceptionally high (29,145 trials) but concentration in Phase 1-2 signals early-stage pipeline challenges

Career Verdict

Strong near-term opportunity for R&D and medical affairs roles, but competitive landscape and patent cliff urgency favor specialists over generalists.

AI-generated market analysis based on FDA, CMS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and hiring data

Market Leaders

#1ELIQUISStable
$18.3B
Bristol Myers Squibb·Launch15.0yr
#2FARXIGAStable
$4.3B
AstraZeneca·Peak15.4yr
#3REVLIMIDDeclining
$3.9B
Bristol Myers Squibb·LOE Approaching1.8yr
#4XTANDIStable
$2.6B
Astellas·Peak10.7yr
#5IMBRUVICAStable
$2.4B
AbbVie·Peak8.9yr

Drug Class Breakdown

FXa Inhibitors
$18.3B(34%)

concentrated in single product

SGLT2 Inhibitors
$4.3B(8%)

single dominant product

Kinase Inhibitors
$4.0B(7%)

multi-product class, competitive

Immunomodulatory Agents (Cereblon)
$3.9B(7%)

facing near-term patent cliff

Androgen Receptor Antagonists
$2.6B(5%)

prostate cancer specialty

Protein Kinase Inhibitors
$2.4B(4%)

niche hematologic oncology

JAK Inhibitors
$1.9B(4%)

near-term LOE exposure

Career Outlook

Stable

Oncology remains a premium therapeutic area but faces structural headwinds: top 10 products account for >80% of spend, patent cliffs loom (REVLIMID 2028), and late-stage pipeline thinness suggests slower near-term growth. However, high trial volume and consolidation create demand for specialized expertise in regulatory, clinical operations, and lifecycle management. Pharma professionals with kinase inhibitor, immunomodulatory, or ADC experience are in highest demand.

Breaking In

Entry-level candidates should target CROs (Thermo Fisher, IQVIA), emerging biotech (BeiGene, BeOne), or contract manufacturing; oncology specialization requires demonstrated domain knowledge.

For Experienced Professionals

Experienced professionals should focus on lifecycle/patent strategy roles (high salary, low headcount) or pivot to emerging modalities (ADCs, bispecifics) to avoid commoditization in crowded kinase inhibitor space.

In-Demand Skills

Regulatory strategy & PDUFA navigationKinase inhibitor development (small molecule)Clinical trial operations & site managementLifecycle management & patent strategyMedical affairs (oncology-specific science)Manufacturing scale-up (small molecule & biotech)

Best For

Regulatory Affairs ManagerClinical Operations ManagerMedical Science Liaison (MSL) — OncologyLifecycle ManagerR&D Scientist (medicinal chemistry, ADME)Manufacturing Engineer

Hiring Landscape

$102K–$266K

Oncology hiring is actively concentrated at Thermo Fisher Scientific (CRO/CDMO services, 559 jobs), AstraZeneca (208 jobs), and emerging biotech players like BeiGene (185 jobs). Commercial roles dominate (412 jobs, $136K avg) but R&D positions offer the highest salary premium ($199K avg, 347 roles). Patent cliff urgency is creating acute demand for regulatory, CMC, and lifecycle management expertise.

1,946
Open Roles
5
Companies Hiring
5
Departments

Top Hiring Companies

208Stable
185Growing
167Growing
147Growing

By Department

Commercial(21%)
$136K
Research & Development(18%)
$199K
Clinical Operations(5%)
$181K
Medical Affairs(4%)
$266K
Manufacturing(5%)
$102K

Strong near-term hiring momentum, especially in CRO/CDMO and emerging biotech; Medical Affairs offers highest compensation but limited headcount.

Competitive Landscape

15 companies ranked by most advanced pipeline stage

Ono Pharmaceutical
Ono PharmaceuticalJapan - Osaka
1 program
1
NivolumabPhase 3Monoclonal Antibody1 trial
Active Trials
NCT02617589Completed560Est. Mar 2022
MSD
MSDIreland - Ballydine
3 programs
1
1
1
DNX-2401Phase 21 trial
VorinostatPhase 1/2Small Molecule1 trial
MK-3475Phase 11 trial
Active Trials
NCT02852655Active Not Recruiting60Est. Jul 2026
NCT01110876Terminated21Est. Jul 2014
NCT02798406Completed49Est. Jun 2021
Sharp Therapeutics
Sharp TherapeuticsPA - Pittsburgh
3 programs
1
1
1
DNX-2401Phase 2
VorinostatPhase 1/2Small Molecule
MK-3475Phase 1
Pfizer
PfizerNEW YORK, NY
1 program
1
DacomitinibPhase 2Small Molecule1 trial
Active Trials
NCT02047747Terminated4Est. Feb 2016
Carl Zeiss Meditec
1 program
1
FluoresceinPhase 21 trial
Active Trials
NCT02691923Recruiting30Est. Dec 2026
Kite Pharma
Kite PharmaCA - El Segundo
1 program
1
MagrolimabPhase 1Monoclonal Antibody1 trial
Active Trials
NCT05169944Completed13Est. Sep 2024
BioTherapeutics Inc
BioTherapeutics IncVA - Blacksburg
1 program
1
Personalized cellular vaccinePhase 1Vaccine1 trial
Active Trials
NCT02808416Completed10Est. Jun 2019
Y-mAbs Therapeutics
Y-mAbs TherapeuticsNY - New York
1 program
1
Radioactive iodine-labeled monoclonal antibody omburtamabPhase 1Monoclonal Antibody1 trial
Active Trials
NCT01502917Completed50Est. Jan 2022
Varian Medical Systems
1 program
Halcyon 4.0 systemN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT05427214Completed52Est. Oct 2024
Colorado Therapeutics
Colorado TherapeuticsCO - Louisville
1 program
OptuneN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT01892397Active Not Recruiting6Est. Jun 2026
Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer IngelheimINGELHEIM, Germany
1 program
AfatinibPHASE_1Small Molecule1 trial
Active Trials
NCT02423525Completed24Est. Aug 2021
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co.RAHWAY, NJ
1 program
MK-3475PHASE_1
Gilead Sciences
Gilead SciencesFOSTER CITY, CA
1 program
MagrolimabPHASE_1Monoclonal Antibody
Eisai
EisaiChina - Liaoning
1 program
PalonosetronPHASE_21 trial
Active Trials
NCT00636805Terminated63Est. Jan 2013
Genentech
GenentechCA - Oceanside
1 program
TemozolomidePHASE_21 trial
Active Trials
NCT01105702Terminated28Est. Apr 2015

Trial Timeline

Clinical trial activity over time

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Ono PharmaceuticalNivolumab
MSDDNX-2401
Carl Zeiss MeditecFluorescein
PfizerDacomitinib
GenentechTemozolomide
EisaiPalonosetron
MSDVorinostat
Kite PharmaMagrolimab
Boehringer IngelheimAfatinib
MSDMK-3475
BioTherapeutics IncPersonalized cellular vaccine
Y-mAbs TherapeuticsRadioactive iodine-labeled monoclonal antibody omburtamab
Varian Medical SystemsHalcyon 4.0 system
Colorado TherapeuticsOptune

Clinical Trials (14)

Total enrollment: 970 patients across 14 trials

An Investigational Immuno-therapy Study of Nivolumab Compared to Temozolomide, Each Given With Radiation Therapy, for Newly-diagnosed Patients With Glioblastoma (GBM, a Malignant Brain Cancer)

Start: Mar 2016Est. completion: Mar 2022560 patients
Phase 3Completed

Combination Adenovirus + Pembrolizumab to Trigger Immune Virus Effects

Start: Oct 2016Est. completion: Jun 202149 patients
Phase 2Completed

Diagnostic Performance of Fluorescein as an Intraoperative Brain Tumor Biomarker

Start: Mar 2016Est. completion: Dec 202630 patients
Phase 2Recruiting

A Phase II Study of Dacomitinib in Progressive Brain Metastases

Start: Feb 2014Est. completion: Feb 20164 patients
Phase 2Terminated

Temodar (Temozolomide), Bevacizumab, Lithium and Radiation for High Grade Glioma

Start: May 2010Est. completion: Apr 201528 patients
Phase 2Terminated
NCT00636805EisaiPalonosetron

Aloxi for Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Malignant Glioma Patients Receiving Irinotecan With Bevacizumab

Start: May 2008Est. completion: Jan 201363 patients
Phase 2Terminated
NCT01110876MSDVorinostat

Phase I / II Vorinostat, Erlotinib and Temozolomide for Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)

Start: Jun 2011Est. completion: Jul 201421 patients
Phase 1/2Terminated

Magrolimab in Children and Adults With Recurrent or Progressive Malignant Brain Tumors

Start: Apr 2022Est. completion: Sep 202413 patients
Phase 1Completed

Safety Study of Afatinib for Brain Cancer

Start: Dec 2016Est. completion: Aug 202124 patients
Phase 1Completed

A Pilot Surgical Trial To Evaluate Early Immunologic Pharmacodynamic Parameters For The PD-1 Checkpoint Inhibitor, Pembrolizumab (MK-3475), In Patients With Surgically Accessible Recurrent/Progressive Glioblastoma

Start: Sep 2016Est. completion: Jul 202660 patients
Phase 1Active Not Recruiting
NCT02808416BioTherapeutics IncPersonalized cellular vaccine

Personalized Cellular Vaccine for Brain Metastases (PERCELLVAC3)

Start: Mar 2016Est. completion: Jun 201910 patients
Phase 1Completed
NCT01502917Y-mAbs TherapeuticsRadioactive iodine-labeled monoclonal antibody omburtamab

Convection-Enhanced Delivery of 124I-Omburtamab for Patients With Non-Progressive Diffuse Pontine Gliomas Previously Treated With External Beam Radiation Therapy

Start: Dec 2011Est. completion: Jan 202250 patients
Phase 1Completed

Imaging Study on Halcyon 4.0 System for Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy

Start: Aug 2022Est. completion: Oct 202452 patients
N/ACompleted

Pilot Study of Optune (NovoTTF-100A) for Recurrent Atypical and Anaplastic Meningioma

Start: Jun 2013Est. completion: Jun 20266 patients
N/AActive Not Recruiting

Related Jobs in Oncology

Phase Legend

PreclinicalLab & animal studies
Phase 1Safety & dosing
Phase 2Efficacy testing
Phase 3Large-scale trials
On MarketApproved & available

Key Insights

1 late-stage (Phase 3) programs, potential near-term approvals
1 actively recruiting trials targeting 970 patients
16 companies competing in this space

The information on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Drug information is sourced from FDA, DailyMed, and other government databases. Adverse event data from FAERS does not establish causation. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical decisions.