Its most promising cancer drug in testing helps just 5% of lung cancer patients with a particular tumor mutation.

FORBES: Why Pfizer Can't Cure Cancer

While many drugs that attack single genes have hit the market recently, they often have been used indiscriminately in all patients with a single tumor type.

FORBES: Magazine Article

In another trial reported today in the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors reported that 57% of 82 lung cancer patients with the ALK gene alteration experienced dramatic tumor shrinkage with the Pfizer drug.

FORBES: Pfizer Drug Powers Cancer Treatment Into The DNA Age

On the FDA's Fast Track and in phase III testing is the company's BAY 43-9006, a small molecule RAF kinase and VEGF inhibitor that inhibits tumor growth for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (advanced kidney cancer).

FORBES: Beware Of Biotechs At Cancer-Cure Prices

In the study, led by Marco Gerlinger and Charles Swanton at the London Research Institute, researchers obtained tumor tissue from four patients with kidney cancer.

WSJ: 'Personalized Medicine' Hits a Bump

Instead of aiming at broad tumor categories, such as all patients with lung cancer or colon cancer, the new medicines target specific subsets of patients whose tumors have particular gene mutations.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Abraxane, a cancer chemotherapy made by Celgene, slowed tumor growth and cut the risk of death in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, according to results that will be presented at a conference on gastrointestinal tumors being held by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

FORBES: Celgene's Abraxane Extends Life By 1.8 Months In Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Onyx has data showing that Sorafenib slows tumor growth, compared with a placebo, but in late-stage trials only 2% of patients had their tumors shrink enough to be counted in the response rate.

FORBES: Magazine Article