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Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Oncology
11
Pipeline Programs
9
Companies
12
Clinical Trials
3 recruiting
0
Approved Products

Pipeline by Development Stage

Preclinical
Phase 1
Phase 1/2
Phase 2
Phase 2/3
Phase 3
On Market
0
2
2
7
0
0
0
Early DiscoveryClinical DevelopmentMarket

Drug Modality Breakdown

Monoclonal Antibody
1100%
+ 13 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

9 companies ranked by most advanced pipeline stage

UNION therapeutics
UNION therapeuticsDenmark - Hellerup
6 programs
6
Fruquintinib, Adebrelimab, Oxaliplatin, CapecitabinePhase 21 trial
Long-course chemoradiation and PD-1 inhibitor, with PCSK9 inhibitorPhase 21 trial
Long-course chemoradiation, with or without TislelizumabPhase 2Monoclonal Antibody1 trial
PD-1 inhibitorPhase 21 trial
capecitabinePhase 21 trial
+1 more programs
Active Trials
NCT06234007Recruiting45Est. Dec 2027
NCT06304987Not Yet Recruiting50Est. May 2026
NCT05245474Recruiting186Est. Sep 2029
+3 more trials
HaploX Biotechnology
HaploX BiotechnologyChina - Shenzhen
1 program
1
AK104Phase 21 trial
Active Trials
NCT05980689Unknown33Est. Jan 2025
Eppendorf
EppendorfGermany - Hamburg
1 program
1
Trifluridine/tipiracil chemoradiationPhase 1/21 trial
Active Trials
NCT04177602Terminated10Est. Sep 2022
Servier
ServierFrance - Suresnes
1 program
1
Trifluridine/tipiracil chemoradiationPhase 1/2
Biocorp
BiocorpFrance - Issoire
1 program
1
EnadenotucirevPhase 1
Abbott
AbbottABBOTT PARK, IL
1 program
1
veliparibPhase 11 trial
Active Trials
NCT01589419Completed32Est. Jan 2015
Intraop Medical
Intraop MedicalCA - Sunnyvale
1 program
Intraoperative Electron RadiotherapyN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT05877352Active Not Recruiting31Est. Jul 2025
Oxford BioTherapeutics
1 program
EnadenotucirevPHASE_11 trial
Active Trials
NCT03916510Completed12Est. Feb 2023
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co.RAHWAY, NJ
1 program
Peposertib 50 mgPHASE_1_21 trial
Active Trials
NCT03770689Completed19Est. Feb 2022

Trial Timeline

Clinical trial activity over time

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
UNION therapeuticsshort-course radiotherapy
UNION therapeuticsLong-course chemoradiation and PD-1 inhibitor, with PCSK9 inhibitor
UNION therapeuticscapecitabine
UNION therapeuticsFruquintinib, Adebrelimab, Oxaliplatin, Capecitabine
HaploX BiotechnologyAK104
UNION therapeuticsPD-1 inhibitor
UNION therapeuticsLong-course chemoradiation, with or without Tislelizumab
EppendorfTrifluridine/tipiracil chemoradiation
Merck & Co.Peposertib 50 mg
Oxford BioTherapeuticsEnadenotucirev
Abbottveliparib
Intraop MedicalIntraoperative Electron Radiotherapy

Clinical Trials (12)

Total enrollment: 583 patients across 12 trials

NCT06802666UNION therapeuticsshort-course radiotherapy

Short-course Radiotherapy Followed by AK112 and CAPOX as Neoadjuvant Therapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Start: Oct 2024Est. completion: Dec 202745 patients
Phase 2Recruiting
NCT06304987UNION therapeuticsLong-course chemoradiation and PD-1 inhibitor, with PCSK9 inhibitor

Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Combined With PD-1 Inhibitor and PCSK9 Inhibitor for pMMR/MSS Locally Advanced Mid-low Rectal Cancer

Start: Apr 2024Est. completion: May 202650 patients
Phase 2Not Yet Recruiting

Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Combined With PD-1 Inhibitor and Thymalfasin for pMMR/MSS Locally Advanced Mid-low Rectal Cancer

Start: Jan 2024Est. completion: Jul 202720 patients
Phase 2Active Not Recruiting
NCT06234007UNION therapeuticsFruquintinib, Adebrelimab, Oxaliplatin, Capecitabine

Short-course Radiotherapy Followed by Fruquintinib Plus Adebrelimab and CAPOX in the Full Course Neoadjuvant Treatment of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: a Multicenter, Single-arm, Open-label Study

Start: Dec 2023Est. completion: Dec 202745 patients
Phase 2Recruiting

Combination of AK104 and Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in pMMR/MSS Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Start: Oct 2023Est. completion: Jan 202533 patients
Phase 2Unknown

TIME in Immunotherapy Combined With nCRT for Rectal Cancer

Start: Sep 2022Est. completion: Dec 2029100 patients
Phase 2Not Yet Recruiting
NCT05245474UNION therapeuticsLong-course chemoradiation, with or without Tislelizumab

Neoadjuvant Long-course Chemoradiation Plus PD-1 Blockade for Mid-low Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Start: Apr 2022Est. completion: Sep 2029186 patients
Phase 2Recruiting
NCT04177602EppendorfTrifluridine/tipiracil chemoradiation

Evaluating Trifluridine/Tipiracil Based Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer - The Phase I/II TARC Trial

Start: Nov 2019Est. completion: Sep 202210 patients
Phase 1/2Terminated
NCT03770689Merck & Co.Peposertib 50 mg

Study of Peposertib in Combination With Capecitabine and RT in Rectal Cancer

Start: Mar 2019Est. completion: Feb 202219 patients
Phase 1/2Completed

Chemoradiation With Enadenotucirev as a Radiosensitiser in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Start: Jul 2019Est. completion: Feb 202312 patients
Phase 1Completed

A Clinical Study Conducted in Multiple Centers Evaluating Escalating Doses of Veliparib in Combination With Capecitabine and Radiation in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Start: Jun 2012Est. completion: Jan 201532 patients
Phase 1Completed
NCT05877352Intraop MedicalIntraoperative Electron Radiotherapy

Intraoperative Electron Radiotherapy in Rectal Cancer - A Feasibility Trial

Start: May 2022Est. completion: Jul 202531 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

3 actively recruiting trials targeting 583 patients
9 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.