On April 24, 2010 CRT reported that in recent months real proof of success of our cutting edge technology transfer and Drug Discovery capabilities has come from major industry partnerships (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, APR 29, 2010, View Source [SID1234523527]). In February 2010, they teamed up with biopharmaceutical, AstraZeneca, in a multi project alliance to create ‘cancer metabolism drugs’. A month later, they announced an exclusive agreement with international biotechnology company Cephalon, to collaborate on the development of small molecule inhibitors.
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Set up as a major strategic initiative by CRT, our laboratories form a fully integrated part of Cancer Research UK’s long-term Drug Discovery strategy. The CRT Discovery Laboratories (CRT-DL) typically focus on both small molecule and biological therapeutics, with the view to generating compelling data packages for novel targets. The CRT-DL works closely with the originating academics, bringing drug discovery disciplines to bear to discover novel prototype therapeutics that are used to confirm target validation and provide a platform for development candidate identification with a pharmaceutical industry partner.
These relationships represent a significant milestone in the development and success of the CRT-DL and are a positive affirmation from industry that CRT is at the forefront of advancing cancer discoveries.
Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive said: "Investing in partnership with pharmaceutical companies in the discovery and development of new cancer drugs will help us to accelerate progress towards our goal of finding new treatments for cancer patients. We hope these alliances will result in a number of new weapons in our fight to beat cancer."
CRT was the first technology transfer organisation to establish a substantial in-house drug discovery capability. Our unique model brings together the strengths of academic exploration of novel biology with the rigor of our industrially-sourced drug discovery team. In the case of the Cephalon partnership, Cancer Research UK funded researchers Professors Peter Parker and Neil McDonald, working within the London Research Institute has been an integral part of the target validation and development of the small molecule inhibitors.
Being able to ‘matchmake’ promising hot areas of cancer research from our leading translational researchers across the UK with the interests of biotechnology companies puts CRT and our Discovery Laboratories at the centre of novel strategic alliances with industry. Over the coming year, CRT will explore similar possible alliances in other promising areas of cancer biology.