What does the future hold for cancer nanomedicine?

Within the next 5 years it is most likely that a number of new nanomedicines will become FDA approved. The cancer nanomedicines that are nearing final clinical testing and approval are those carrying small molecule drugs. Additionally, within this time, there should be the first of several approved siRNA-based nanomedicines.

These nanomedicines will not be to treat cancer, but rather for the treatment of liver diseases. However, they will lead the way for siRNA-based nanomedicines to be approved for cancer at a latter time (say within 10 years). Because of the safety of nanomedicines, once they are approved, it is expected that they will be combined with numerous other therapeutics (including new immunotherapeutics) to provide more individualized and potent therapies to cancer patients. Thus, nanomedicines will be utilized in combination therapies to treat a broad spectrum of cancer types AND to treat specific tumor types, where the mode of deployment of the nanomedicine will depend only upon their specific designs and chemical configuration.