Important inroads have been made this year in the fight against cancer. Advances range from treatments that target the genetic and immune vulnerabilities of tumours to tailored vaccines designed to train the immune system to detect cancerous formations. Alongside this scientific race, another investment race is unfolding, with billions of dollars being invested in the field, making the fight against cancer a combined story of medicine, economics and hope. Al Majalla tracks all of these developments and their respective impacts in this week’s cover story.