Skip to main content

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Oncology
12
Pipeline Programs
16
Companies
14
Clinical Trials
2 recruiting
2
Approved Products

Pipeline by Development Stage

Preclinical
Phase 1
Phase 1/2
Phase 2
Phase 2/3
Phase 3
On Market
0
2
0
6
0
2
2
Early DiscoveryClinical DevelopmentMarket

Drug Modality Breakdown

Small Molecule
650%
Monoclonal Antibody
325%
ADC
217%
Peptide
18%
+ 8 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.

On Market (2)

Approved therapies currently available

Exelixis
CABOMETYXApproved
cabozantinib
Exelixis
oral2016
1.1B Part D
Exelixis
COMETRIQApproved
cabozantinib
Exelixis
oral2012
3M Part D

Competitive Landscape

16 companies ranked by most advanced pipeline stage

Exelixis
ExelixisCA - Alameda
1 program
1
1
CabozantinibPhase 3Small Molecule
UNION therapeutics
UNION therapeuticsDenmark - Hellerup
2 programs
1
Apatinib Oral TabletPhase 31 trial
The Initial Management in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in the Real World in ChinaN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT04857086Unknown1,400Est. Mar 2023
NCT03048877Unknown118Est. Dec 2023
Sandoz
SandozAustria - Kundl
1 program
1
EverolimusPhase 2
Bayer
BayerLEVERKUSEN, Germany
1 program
1
EverolimusPhase 2
MSD
MSDIreland - Ballydine
1 program
1
PembrolizumabPhase 2Monoclonal Antibody1 trial
Active Trials
NCT05852223Recruiting25Est. Nov 2026
Sharp Therapeutics
Sharp TherapeuticsPA - Pittsburgh
1 program
1
PembrolizumabPhase 2Monoclonal Antibody
Kite Pharma
Kite PharmaCA - El Segundo
1 program
1
Sacituzumab govitecanPhase 2ADC
Prevail Therapeutics
1 program
1
Selpercatinib MonotherapyPhase 2
Alpha Fusion
Alpha FusionJapan - Osaka
1 program
1
astatine At-211 sodium astatidePhase 1Peptide
Colorado Therapeutics
Colorado TherapeuticsCO - Louisville
1 program
1
rhTSHPhase 11 trial
Active Trials
NCT02278198Completed5Est. Sep 2019
Eisai
EisaiChina - Liaoning
2 programs
LenvatinibN/ASmall Molecule1 trial
LENVATINIBPHASE_2Small Molecule1 trial
Active Trials
NCT02211222Approved For MarketingEst. Jun 2015
NCT04321954Active Not Recruiting30Est. May 2026
Chia Tai TianQing Pharmaceutical Group
2 programs
AL2846 capsulePHASE_1_21 trial
AnlotinibPHASE_2_3Small Molecule1 trial
Active Trials
NCT05745363Completed33Est. Nov 2025
NCT02586337Unknown113Est. Dec 2019
Ipsen
IpsenChina - Tianjin
2 programs
CabozantinibPHASE_2Small Molecule1 trial
CabozantinibPHASE_3Small Molecule1 trial
Active Trials
NCT05660954Active Not Recruiting41Est. Jun 2026
NCT03690388Active Not Recruiting187Est. Jul 2026
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co.RAHWAY, NJ
1 program
PembrolizumabPHASE_2Monoclonal Antibody
Gilead Sciences
Gilead SciencesFOSTER CITY, CA
1 program
Sacituzumab govitecanPHASE_2ADC1 trial
Active Trials
NCT06235216Recruiting42Est. Dec 2027
Sanofi
SanofiPARIS, France
1 program
ThyrogenPHASE_33 trials
Active Trials
NCT01736163Completed144Est. Aug 2012
NCT00295763Completed61Est. Sep 2006
NCT00196729Completed63Est. Sep 2003

Trial Timeline

Clinical trial activity over time

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
IpsenCabozantinib
UNION therapeuticsApatinib Oral Tablet
SanofiThyrogen
SanofiThyrogen
Chia Tai TianQing Pharmaceutical GroupAnlotinib
MSDPembrolizumab
Gilead SciencesSacituzumab govitecan
IpsenCabozantinib
EisaiLENVATINIB
Chia Tai TianQing Pharmaceutical GroupAL2846 capsule
Colorado TherapeuticsrhTSH
EisaiLenvatinib
UNION therapeuticsThe Initial Management in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in the Real World in China
SanofiThyrogen

Clinical Trials (14)

Total enrollment: 2,262 patients across 14 trials

NCT03690388IpsenCabozantinib

A Study of Cabozantinib Compared With Placebo in Subjects With Radioiodine-refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Who Have Progressed After Prior Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR) -Targeted Therapy

Start: Oct 2018Est. completion: Jul 2026187 patients
Phase 3Active Not Recruiting
NCT03048877UNION therapeuticsApatinib Oral Tablet

Efficacy of Apatinib in Radioactive Iodine-refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Start: Dec 2016Est. completion: Dec 2023118 patients
Phase 3Unknown

A New Study to Follow-up Thyroid Cancer Patients Who Participated in a Previous Study, Which Compared the Success of Destruction of the Thyroid Remnant Using Standard Treatment or Thyrogen.

Start: May 2006Est. completion: Sep 200661 patients
Phase 3Completed

Comparison of the Safety and Successful Ablation of Thyroid Remnant in Post-thyroidectomized Euthyroid Patients (i.e. Patients Administered Thyrogen) Versus Hypothyroid Patients (no Thyrogen) Following 131I Administration

Start: Dec 2001Est. completion: Sep 200363 patients
Phase 3Completed

Study of Anlotinib in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer(ALTER01032)

Start: Jul 2015Est. completion: Dec 2019113 patients
Phase 2/3Unknown
NCT05852223MSDPembrolizumab

Pembrolizumab in High-risk Thyroid Cancer

Start: Dec 2024Est. completion: Nov 202625 patients
Phase 2Recruiting
NCT06235216Gilead SciencesSacituzumab govitecan

Sacituzumab govitEcan in THYroid Cancers

Start: Sep 2024Est. completion: Dec 202742 patients
Phase 2Recruiting
NCT05660954IpsenCabozantinib

Cabozantinib In Advanced Radioactive-Iodine Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Start: May 2023Est. completion: Jun 202641 patients
Phase 2Active Not Recruiting

Lenvatinib in Locally Advanced Invasive Thyroid Cancer

Start: Mar 2021Est. completion: May 202630 patients
Phase 2Active Not Recruiting

Clinical Study of AL2846 Capsule in the Treatment of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Start: Feb 2023Est. completion: Nov 202533 patients
Phase 1/2Completed

Evaluation of Thyroid Stunning From a Diagnostic Dose of I-123

Start: Nov 2012Est. completion: Sep 20195 patients
Phase 1Completed

An Expanded Access Program With Lenvatinib for the Treatment of Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Est. completion: Jun 2015
N/AApproved For Marketing
NCT04857086UNION therapeuticsThe Initial Management in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in the Real World in China

The Initial Management in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in the Real World in China

Start: Dec 2020Est. completion: Mar 20231,400 patients
N/AUnknown

A Retrospective Observational Study Comparing Two Different Treatment Options in Thyroid Cancer Patients With T4 Tumours

Start: May 2012Est. completion: Aug 2012144 patients
N/ACompleted

Related Jobs in Oncology

Phase Legend

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

Key Insights

2 late-stage (Phase 3) programs, potential near-term approvals
2 actively recruiting trials targeting 2,262 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.