As the founder of a market research agency solely focused on oncology, I rarely interact directly with patients. Yet, I often hear stories that stay with me. One, in particular, has lingered in my mind for years—Patient #2. I would occasionally search the web, wondering: What ever happened to Patient #2?
Her name was never disclosed, but her journey was extraordinary. She was a young woman battling relapsed melanoma, and her condition had deteriorated to the point where a metastasized tumor had collapsed her lung. She was told she had no options left and was being referred to hospice care—a phrase every cancer patient dreads. In the simplest terms, it meant: "We have nothing left to offer you. Start getting your affairs in order."
But fate had other plans.
A Last-Chance Breakthrough
Instead of going to hospice, Patient #2 was enrolled in a clinical trial for an investigational immunotherapy developed by Medarex, an innovative biotech company later acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). Medarex had pioneered monoclonal antibodies that targeted immune checkpoints like CTLA-4 and PD-1, allowing the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
For Patient #2, one treatment changed everything.
Her tumor shrank enough for doctors to surgically remove it, and the response was so profound it left her physicians stunned. At her follow-up scan, the radiologist assumed there had been a mix-up—the images were completely clear. No evidence of disease. No tumors.
The Legacy of Immunotherapy
A decade later, in 2024, I finally found my answer—Patient #2 was still alive. I was thrilled. Her story wasn’t just an anomaly; it was proof of what was possible.
Today, 50% of melanoma patients are cured, a statistic that once seemed unimaginable. This breakthrough is largely thanks to the groundbreaking work of James Allison and Tasuku Honjo, whose discoveries in immune checkpoint inhibitors earned them the Nobel Prize.
This isn’t just a story of one patient—it’s the story of how science, perseverance, and innovation have rewritten the future of cancer treatment.
Read more about the scientists who made this possible:
🔗 Biopharma Dive
