Cancer Research Technology and the University of Manchester Announce Biomarker Alliance with AstraZeneca
London, UK: 4th June 2007 - Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT), the cancer-focused development and commercialisation company, and The University of Manchester today announce the establishment of an alliance with AstraZeneca to develop serological pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers.
The alliance aims to investigate biomarkers of tumour cell death using specialist PD assays and may lead to new serological PD biomarkers. Investigations will be carried out at the laboratory of the Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Group at the Paterson Institute of Cancer Research, University of Manchester. CRT has exclusive rights to commercialise novel biomarkers identified in the course of the three-year research collaboration. This collaboration includes support for 5 full-time research scientists and builds on the clinical pharmacology fellowship programme announced by CRT and The University of Manchester on 20 November 2006.
Within the alliance the Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Group, jointly led by Professor Caroline Dive and Dr Malcolm Ranson, will provide cutting edge expertise in PD assay development and implementation. The group specialises in using immunohistochemical, flow cytometric and ELISA-based techniques to progress and validate biomarkers related to cancer. These expertises have previously been used to validate biomarkers of angiogenesis and cell death that are now being employed in a clinical trial setting.
Professor Caroline Dive and Dr Malcolm Ranson commented: "This new alliance further strengthens the relationship between the research partners. The establishment of the clinical pharmacology fellowship programme is already helping us to build skills in an area of national deficit, and the biomarker alliance further improves our abilities to develop new and more effectively targeted treatments for cancer patients."
Professor Andrew Hughes, Clinical Director of Discovery Medicine, AstraZeneca stated: “Tumour cell death is the final event which we seek for many of our molecularly targeted agents. If we can measure this event in a blood sample rather than from a tumour biopsy - the current gold standard; it minimises the intervention for the patient; and maximises the opportunity of detecting what is likely to be a dynamic event by allowing for repeat sampling.”
-Ends-
For More Information Contact
Michael Regnier, Press Officer
Cancer Research Technology Limited
+44 (0)20 7061 8309
michael.regnier@cancer.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
About Cancer Biomarkers
As it becomes increasingly clear that evaluation of patient tumour status at a molecular level is necessary for successful development of mechanism-based therapies, the identification, validation and implementation of pharmacodynamic biomarkers is becoming critically important. Effective biomarkers support drug development in several ways: they can be used to demonstrate proof of mechanism (target modulation); facilitate a rational choice of drug dose and schedule; and, if implemented to the appropriate quality standard, they can contribute to clinical decisions regarding patient management. Ultimately, biomarkers help explain or predict clinical outcomes and reduce costs of drug development.
About the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research (PICR) •The PICR is a research institute within The University of Manchester, and is one of four research institutes core-funded by Cancer Research UK.
•It is a partner in the newly-formed Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), whose goal is to become one of the world’s leading cancer research centres.
•MCRC brings together the cancer research activity in the city of The University of Manchester, Christie Hospital NHS Trust and Cancer Research UK.
•Research at the PICR spans the whole spectrum of cancer research, from programmes investigating the molecular and cellular basis of cancer to those focused on translational research and the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
•Facilities include micro-arrays, advanced imaging, bioinformatics and state-of-the-art mass-spectrometry based proteomics.
•The institute has over 200 postdoctoral scientists, clinical fellows, scientific officers, administrative and technical staff, postgraduate research students and visiting fellows.
•For more information please visit www.paterson.man.ac.uk.
About Cancer Research Technology
Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT) is an oncology-focused development and commercialisation company that realises cancer patient benefit from publicly- funded research worldwide. CRT works closely with leading international cancer scientists, their institutes and funding bodies to protect, develop and commercialise oncology-related discoveries. CRT is wholly owned by Cancer Research UK, the largest independent funder of cancer research in the world. Further information about CRT can be found at www.CancerTechnology.com.
About Cancer Research UK
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.
•Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer.
•Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients.
•Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make.
•Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $23.95 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
|
