Oncology
Every two minutes someone in the U.K. is diagnosed with cancer, with someone in Ireland receiving a cancer diagnosis every 12 minutes.i,ii Ipsen is committed to developing new treatments with the ability to improve and extend lives of those affected.
iCancer Research U.K.: Cancer Incidence Statistics U.K. Accessed June 2025.
iiIrish Cancer Society: Cancer Statistics. Accessed June 2025.
Tackling cancer head-on
Although often talked about generally, ‘cancer’ describes a diverse range of diseases (over 200 different types of cancer exist).i Each type of cancer is typically characterised by the presence of abnormal cells that divide in an uncontrollable way.ii Some cancers can be surgically removed or treated successfully, particularly if they are detected early.iii However, for people with advanced cancers the aim is to help control the spread or manage its symptoms.iv
iCancer Research U.K.: What is Cancer? Accessed June 2025.
iiCancer Research U.K.: Cancer Cells. Accessed June 2025.
iiiCancer Research U.K.: What is Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
ivMacMillan Cancer Support: Advanced Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
Areas we work in within oncology
Ipsen’s work in oncology currently focuses on a number of cancer types, looking at where we can add benefit along every step of the treatment pathway and use targeted therapies to address conditions with high unmet needs.
Breast cancer is a major health issue across the U.K. & Ireland.i Between 2017–2019 it was the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the U.K., with 56,822 new cases of invasive breast cancer reported in the U.K. every year between 2017–2019 and over 3,400 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Ireland.i,ii
The treatment of breast cancer depends on where the cancer is, how big it is, whether it has spread anywhere else in the body, and a patient’s general health.iii Typical treatment options may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone (endocrine) therapy, targeted cancer medicines and bone strengthening drugs.iii,iv
Ipsen works to provide effective treatment options for people living with breast cancer, including those looking to help prevent the return of their cancer once it is in remission.
iCancer Research U.K.: Breast Cancer Statistics. Accessed June 2025.
iiIrish Cancer Society: Breast Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
iiiCancer Research U.K.: Breast Cancer Treatment. Accessed June 2025.
ivCancer Research U.K.: Bisphosphonates and Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in males in the U.K.i Between 2017–2019 there were around 12,039 deaths, accounting for 14% of all male cancer deaths in the U.K., with 52,300 new cases reported in the U.K. between 2016–2018.i In Ireland, 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, with approximately 4,000 men diagnosed each year.ii
The treatment of prostate cancer depends on how big it is, where the cancer is and whether it has spread anywhere else in the body, and the patient’s general health. Typical treatments may include active surveillance and watchful waiting, surgery, external or internal radiotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and other options.iii,iv
Ipsen supports men with prostate cancer through the development of new therapies, including for patients whose cancer may have spread (locally advanced/metastatic).
iCancer Research U.K.: Prostate Cancer Statistics. Accessed June 2025.
iiIrish Cancer Society: Prostate Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
iiiCancer Research U.K.: Treatment for Prostate Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
ivCancer Research U.K.: Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, accounting for over 80% of cases.i Between 2017 and 2019 there were 13,834 new cases of kidney cancer each year in the U.K., with 4,700 deaths (2017–2019).ii In Ireland, almost 630 people each year are diagnosed with kidney cancer, with 9 out of 10 kidney cancers being renal cell cancer.iii,iv
The treatment received depends on the stage of kidney cancer, its location and the patient’s general health.v A multidisciplinary team of doctors and other professionals will discuss the best treatment for kidney cancer patients, however surgery is the main treatment for kidney cancers that have not spread to another part of the body.v
Ipsen’s focus is to primarily help deliver treatment options for people with renal cell carcinoma whose cancer has spread and is incurable.
iCancer Research U.K.: Kidney Cancer – Types and Grades. Accessed June 2025.
iiCancer Research U.K.: Kidney Cancer Statistics. Accessed June 2025.
iiiIrish Cancer Society: Kidney Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
ivIrish Cancer Society: What are the Types of Kidney Cancer? Accessed June 2025.
vCancer Research U.K.: Kidney Cancer Treatment Options. Accessed June 2025.
A neuroendocrine tumour (NET) is a rare tumour that can develop in many different organs of the body.i It affects the cells that release hormones into the bloodstream (neuroendocrine cells).i The cause of NETs is not fully understood and the treatment is dependent on individual patient circumstances including where the tumour is, how advanced the patient’s condition is and the patient’s overall health.i
Surgery is the main treatment for NETs, other options include somatostatin analogues, targeted cancer drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.ii
Ipsen has sought to find solutions to help patients and doctors better manage NETs, including for cases where the disease may be indolent and require tumour and symptom control.
iCancer Research U.K.:What are neuroendocrine cancers? Accessed June 2025.
iiCancer Research U.K.: NETs Treatment. Accessed June 2025.
Thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland and more commonly affects women than men.i Thyroid cancer is classified into medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).ii DTC is the most common type of thyroid cancer (~90% of cases) and is classified into papillary (most common), follicular and oncocytic (Hürthle cell) thyroid cancer.ii Thyroid cancer is the 20th most common cancer in the U.K., accounting for 1% of all new cancers (2016–2018)iii. In Ireland, over 250 people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer every year.iv
Surgery is the most common treatment for thyroid cancer, either completely removing the thyroid (total thyroidectomy) or partially (lobectomy or partial thyroidectomy). If the disease is more advanced a patient could be eligible for other types of therapy.v
iCancer Research U.K.: About Thyroid Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
iiCancer Research U.K.: Thyroid Cancer Incidence Statistics. Accessed June 2025.
iiiCancer Research U.K.: Thyroid Cancer Statistics. Accessed June 2025.
ivIrish Cancer Society: Understanding Thyroid Cancer Booklet. Accessed June 2025.
vCancer Research U.K.: Treatment Options for Thyroid Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
Primary liver cancer is cancer that started in the liver.i There are 5 main types but hepatocellular carcinoma (also called hepatoma or HCC) is the most common type.i This type of liver cancer develops from the main liver cells called hepatocytes.i It’s more common in people who have a damaged liver from cirrhosis (scarring of the liver due to previous damage, such as from the hepatitis B or C virus or long term alcoholic drinking).i
Incidence rates for liver cancer are projected to rise by 6% in the U.K. between 2023–2025 and 2038–2040, leading to 9,700 new cases every year.ii In Ireland, around 370 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year, however the numbers of primary liver cancers increased by over 300% from 1994 to 2014.iii,iv
iCancer Research U.K.: Liver Cancer Types. Accessed June 2025.
iiCancer Research U.K.: Liver Cancer Statistics. Accessed June 2025.
iiiIrish Cancer Society: Primary Liver Cancer Booklet. Accessed June 2025.
ivNational Cancer Registry Ireland: Cancer Trends No.31, Primary Liver Cancer. Accessed June 2025.
ALLSC-GB-000879
September 2025