New Insights on Success and Failed Drugs

The emergence of molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment approach for numerous cancers. Compared with traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy provide enhanced treatment efficacy and lower toxicity. Nonetheless, designing and developing these innovative drugs is fraught with challenges. While some drugs have demonstrated promising efficacy, others have failed to meet their anticipated outcomes. This chapter reviews the clinical trials of several successful and failed targeted therapies and immunotherapies, aiming to distill critical insights and learnings that can inform and guide the development of future drugs in this rapidly evolving field. Specifically, the critical factors involved in the design of clinical trials are emphasized.