Committed to Fighting Cancer: 30+ Years of Carboplatin at Heraeus

Cancer is one of the major health issues worldwide. According to World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the cause of nearly one in six deaths.1 For many cancer patients, the effective treatment goes beyond a mere chemical substance or a drug: it represents a chance to conquer this devastating disease. With the growing number of cancer patients, the demand for effective cancer treatments is already high and projected to increase further. This trend goes hand in hand with the rising demand for chemotherapy. Chemotherapy, with Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPIs) in particular, plays a central role here.

Heraeus Precious Metals Business Line Pharmaceutical Ingredients is one of the leading global manufacturers and suppliers when it comes to platinum-based HPAPIs. In addition to Cisplatin and Oxaliplatin, Carboplatin also belongs to the family of platinum HPAPIs. It is used to treat various types of cancer, including ovarian and lung cancer, head and neck tumors and neuroblastoma.

Facts World Cancer Day 2024

For decades, platinum-based HPAPIs have changed the lives of patients for the better. Carboplatin was developed as a less toxic alternative to Cisplatin. The compound was patented in 1972 and gained approval for medical use in 1989. Thanks to its effectiveness combined with less severe side effects and better tolerability, Carboplatin quickly evolved to one of the most widely used HPAPIs in chemotherapy. In 2010, Carboplatin was included in the WHO's List of Essential Medicines, confirming its crucial role in healthcare. Despite the introduction of new targeted therapies, Carboplatin remains a fundamental component in cancer treatment. It is often used in combination with other drugs to improve treatment results and is accessible to patients across the globe.

Heraeus commenced Carboplatin production in 1987 and built a dedicated facility for its production at the headquarters in Hanau, Germany in 1994. Over the following years, Heraeus became one of the largest platinum-HPAPI producers globally. With a consistent focus on delivering top-quality products, Heraeus sets standards that are confirmed by its customers.

Facts World Cancer Day 2024

Fast forwarding to 2023, Heraeus Precious Metals delivered Carboplatin sufficient for approximately 2.3 million cycles of chemotherapy. This equates to an average of over 450,000 patients being treated.

These figures are impressive. At the same time, however, the demand for Carboplatin is expected to increase even further. According to alarming WHO forecasts, the number of new cancer cases will increase by 50% by 2040.2 Therefore, the urgent need for a growing supply of HPAPIs cannot be emphasized enough. Without a reliable supply, many patients would be limited in their access to optimal life-saving treatments. At worst, these patients would remain untreated.

Facts World Cancer Day 2024

The Pharmaceutical Ingredients team at Heraeus is continuously monitoring the growing global demand for platinum HPAPIs and adjusting its capacity to supply ingredients for additional doses. In 2021, the company significantly expanded its platinum HPAPI production in Hanau with a multi-million euro investment. The increased capacity enables Heraeus to continue to respond promptly to high market demand in the future.

For three years in a row, the motto of World Cancer Day on February 4 has been "Close the Care Gap". Over 30 years of carboplatin production speaks a clear language: Heraeus Precious Metals is committed to playing its part in increasing access to life-saving oncology medications and is proud to make this important contribution to the fight against cancer.

[1]  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
[2]  https://gco.iarc.fr