Ken Harrap obituary
by Bob Jackson and Herbie Newell from on (#2HK5X)
Cancer researcher whose work on drug development had a major impact on life expectancy
Ken Harrap, who has died aged 85, was a pioneer in the development of anti-cancer drugs. The research he directed over several decades in the UK resulted in the discovery of three registered cancer drugs, carboplatin, raltitrexed and abiraterone, an outstanding achievement.
When Ken was born there were no effective anti-cancer drugs and, except for patients in the early stage of the disease who could be cured by surgery, a diagnosis of cancer was a death sentence. Today, thanks to treatment in which his drugs play an important role, more than half of cancer patients can expect to be alive 10 years after diagnosis.
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