Cancer Research Technology and The University of Manchester Announce Clinical Pharmacology Collaboration in Oncology with AstraZeneca
London, UK; Manchester, UK, 20 November 2006 – Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT), the oncology-focused development and commercialisation company, and The University of Manchester have entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca to establish a clinical pharmacology biomarker research and discovery collaboration.
Within the collaboration, two clinical pharmacology research fellowships will be jointly funded by Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca, strengthening existing collaborative links between AstraZeneca, CRT and the Cancer Research UK core-funded Paterson Institute for Cancer Research. The clinical research fellowships aim to identify and validate circulating biomarkers for use in conjunction with targeted cancer therapies. Within the 3-year fellowship programmes, clinical research fellows will receive training in translational research and phase I clinical trials from academic, clinical and industry perspectives at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, the Christie Hospital and AstraZeneca. This collaboration serves as a pilot for an anticipated rolling joint Cancer Research UK/AstraZeneca Clinical Pharmacology Programme.
With the emergence of targeted cancer therapies, the development of robust biomarkers that reflect the molecular pathology of tumours, predict or report drug responsiveness is becoming increasingly important for improving the success of patient treatment. Such biomarkers could potentially be used for effective determination of optimum biological dose, establishment of proof-of-concept, selection of patients most likely to respond, and detection of subsequent resistance to treatment. This collaboration focuses on the investigation of blood-borne biomarkers. As blood samples can be taken much more frequently and easily than tissue biopsies, such circulating biomarkers are particularly valuable for the development of targeted cancer therapies.
Prof Caroline Dive, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Group Leader at the Paterson Institute and Dr Malcolm Ranson, Director of the clinical trials unit at the Christie Hospital commented: “We are really excited about this excellent collaboration. By providing this training programme for Clinical Pharmacologists, Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca begin to build skills in an area of national deficit at the same time as developing new treatments for cancer patients. This collaboration brings together strong cancer research skills in the Manchester Cancer Research Centre and AstraZeneca’s drug development expertise to discover biomarkers that will improve cancer treatment. ”
Dr Andrew Hughes, the Clinical Director for Discovery Medicine in Oncology at AstraZeneca commented that “This unique opportunity provides the ability for two outstanding clinical fellows to understand how better to target new cancer treatments to patients most likely to benefit from therapy; in a further deepening of the partnership between AstraZeneca and the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.”
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Cancer Research Technology Limited
Dr Nick Wells, Head of Marketing +44 207 269 3640
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Notes to Editors
About the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research (PICR)
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The PICR is a research institute within The University of Manchester, and is one of four research institutes core-funded by Cancer Research UK.
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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.
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MCRC brings together the cancer research activity in the city of The University of Manchester, Christie Hospital NHS Trust and Cancer Research UK.
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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.
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Facilities include micro-arrays, advanced imaging, bioinformatics and state-of-the-art mass-spectrometry based proteomics.
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The institute has over 200 postdoctoral scientists, clinical fellows, scientific officers, administrative and technical staff, postgraduate research students and visiting fellows.
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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
Cancer Research UK is Europe's leading cancer charity, dedicated to research into the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer. The charity supports the work of 3,000 scientists, doctors and nurses in over 80 academic centres across the UK, with an annual scientific spend of more than £257 million. Cancer Research UK is the European leader in the development of novel anti-cancer treatments; from their discovery at the laboratory bench to early clinical trials in cancer patients. Further information about Cancer Research UK can be found at 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
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