Accounting for nearly 10% of all cancer diagnoses, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world1, and the second most deadly1. The main factor is that it is often diagnosed late owing to its asymptomatic nature. At Servier, we have made this deadly cancer of the digestive system one of our key priorities. As part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we stand by our commitment to working alongside patient associations to address patient needs and improve prevention.
Cancer on the rise, particularly among young adults
Also known as bowel cancer, colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum (the large intestine). Because of the aging population and certain risk factors related to lifestyle, the incidence of this gastrointestinal cancer is steadily increasing.
3.29 M
By 2045, an estimated 3.29 million new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed, leading to the deaths of 1.66 million people2.
The risk of colorectal cancer generally increases with age, with the majority of cases occurring after the age of 501. However, more and more young adults are now falling victim to the disease: 1 in 5 cases of colorectal cancer affects people under the age of 55 in the United States3, and the number of cases in adults under the age of 50 continues to rise in Europe4. These figures are all the more worrisome given that, in the absence of symptoms, nearly 60% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage (22% of which present metastases)3.
With this in mind, patient association Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE) has decided to take a different approach to its annual European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (ECCAM) campaign. Aiming to reach a wider and younger audience, the ECCAM 2025 campaign highlights personal stories from patients of all ages throughout the month of March (Blue March) with the slogan: “You are never too young: Untold stories of early-onset colorectal cancer”.
Cancer that can be prevented in time
The good news is that in many cases colorectal cancer is preventable. Reducing the risk of developing this type of cancer is possible through a healthy diet (favoring unprocessed foods and limiting the consumption of red meat), regular physical activity, and consuming less alcohol and tobacco.
Colorectal cancer can also be treated effectively if caught early enough: The 5-year survival rate is 90% in the first stage of the disease5. Early detection and appropriate treatment are therefore essential to better prognosis and quality of life for patients. Fortunately, colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented through screening.
We at Servier are working alongside patient association DiCE in the war on colorectal cancer and are joining this powerful prevention campaign. Together, we are committed to improving screening programs and providing support to those affected by the disease.
Colorectal cancer: Screening still comes too late
Colorectal cancer is a common disease. It is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the world. Coming in third place behind lung and liver cancer, it affects almost as many women as men1.
Helping patients living with colorectal cancer
Mindful of the need to respond effectively to the needs of patients and their loved ones, we believe that their insight into the disease and treatments is essential to improving the care they receive, beyond that of the medication.
We are therefore committed to partnering with patients and the associations that advocate on their behalf. Our collaboration with the DiCE community reflects our commitment to patients. Two ambitious projects are at the heart of this partnership: SHAPE (Support Harmonized Advances for better Patient Experiences), an international program to support people with cancer in their fight against the disease; and PROMETCO, the first real-world study aimed at improving therapeutic cancer management.
SHAPE : A host of tools to improve patients’ quality of life
Launched in 2018, the SHAPE program provides patients with a variety of useful tools (educational guides, videos, etc.) to better meet their daily care needs. Co-designed with and for patient experts, patient representatives, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, these resources are the result of intensive collaborative work since the program’s launch.
Providing a wealth of useful information on the care pathway, they are a valuable means of support for patients and their loved ones throughout their journey with the disease.
There are currently nine educational guides available (three of which are geared specifically towards patients with gastrointestinal cancer), which provide a range of practical advice for improving the care and quality of life of cancer patients:
The newest addition to the SHAPE program is the educational guide, Adapting to metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) .
In addition, to help healthcare professionals better understand their patients and answer any questions they may have, a second version of these guides has been published.
Initié en 2018, le programme SHAPE met à la disposition des patients un certain nombre d’outils (guides pédagogiques, vidéos…) pour répondre
PROMETCO, the first real-world study for metastatic colorectal cancer
Another example of our commitment to patients and our collaboration with the DiCE association is PROMETCO, the first international real-world data study on the therapeutic management of metastatic colorectal cancer. At present, real-life data on this disease is sparse, making it an essential initiative in efforts to combat this type of cancer.
Our teams have been running PROMETCO since 2018, following 738 patients from 18 countries in Europe and South America. All patients have metastatic colorectal cancer, and their disease has worsened on two occasions since diagnosis. The study has enabled us to better capture the reality of the care continuum involved in this complex clinical situation.
PROMETCO keeps patients actively involved throughout the process, not only in data collection, but also in study design and the dissemination of results. The data collected covers various aspects such as mobility, personal care, daily activities, pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression, as well as the impact the disease has on daily life and long-term treatment adherence. These are key factors for both patients and doctors.
Publishing the results of this study will help to broaden the body of medical knowledge on colorectal cancer and provide valuable information to the gastrointestinal medical community. Through improving practices in the future, particularly in terms of treatment performance and personalization, PROMETCO is laying the groundwork for significant advances in the treatment of this cancer to extend patients’ survival and better meet their needs.
An ambitious innovation strategy in oncology
Faced with the growing need for therapeutic solutions, we have made oncology one of our top innovation priorities. We therefore devote nearly 70% of our Research & Development budget to this area. Our ambition is to become an innovative and focused player in treatments for rare cancers by 2030.
Our oncology R&D programs focus on two promising and complementary therapeutic approaches:
Our considerable investment in the war on cancer is currently reflected in a pipeline of 30 projects: 16 in development and 14 in oncology research (as of January 2025). We currently have a portfolio of 8 oncology drugs available to patients worldwide..
[1] Source: World Health Organization : https://www.who.int/fr/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/colorectal-cancer – consulted on 17/02/2025
[2] Source : World Health Organization / Global Cancer Observatory 2022, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) : https://gco.iarc.who.int/tomorrow/en/dataviz/isotype?age_end=17&single_unit=100000&types=0&cancers=41- consulted on 17/02/2025
[3] Source : American Cancer Society, Colorectal cancer statistics, 2023 : https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21772 – consulted on 17/02/2025
[4] Source : Vuik, Fanny ER, et al. “Increasing Incidence of Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults in Europe over the Last 25 Years.” Gut, vol. 68, no. 10, 16 May 2019, pp. 1820–1826 : https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2018-317592
[5] Source : https://digestivecancers.eu/colorectal-what/ – consulted on 17/02/2025