London, UK: 7th May 2007 – Cancer Research Technology Ltd (CRT), the cancer-focused commercialisation and development company, today reveals details of its ambitious lab expansion programme.

The Development Laboratories, working on an industrial model in collaboration with the originating academics, will double in scale with the number of scientists increasing from around 45 at present to 90. The first phase of expansion will focus on increasing both the medicinal chemistry and biological teams.

Future plans will bring CRT’s expertise into the heart of major Cancer Research UK institutes in Cambridge, Manchester and Glasgow. This will follow the establishment of CRT business managers in these locations to be closer to the science and the scientists.

The expansion is testament to the number of projects initiated on the back of discoveries arising from basic research funded by CRT’s parent charity, Cancer Research UK, and other partners throughout Europe and the US. Increasing the capacity of the labs will help to meet growing demand and, in particular, enable projects to be completed more quickly, ensuring potential therapeutics are developed as soon as possible. It will consolidate CRT’s leading global position in translational drug discovery and biotherapeutic development.

CRT last year formed an American subsidiary company, CRT Inc. The Boston-based team has already announced a major collaboration with the Fox Chase Cancer Center. CRT is also the key commercialisation partner in Australia’s new Cooperative Research Centre for Cancer Therapeutics.

Dr Clive Stanway, recently appointed to the new role of Chief Scientific Officer at CRT, said: “The expansion will make us better equipped to meet the diverse demands of our academic collaborators, and bridge the development gap to industry. It will also create many new partnering opportunities, providing leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies with exciting and novel opportunities to supplement their pipelines.”

The announcement coincides with CRT’s presence at BIO2007, the world’s largest biotech conference, taking place in Boston, USA.

CRT’s drug discovery and biotherapeutic development teams consist of staff drawn from academia and industry. Both groups will benefit from the expansion as the total number of scientists doubles.

Dr Keith Blundy, CEO of CRT, said: “This is an extremely exciting period of growth for CRT. Our plans will redefine traditional models of technology transfer. Patient benefit is at the heart of all these developments and I am proud to have the opportunity to lead them.”

- ENDS -

For media enquiries please contact Michael Regnier in the CRT press office on

+44 (0)20 7061 8309.

Notes to editors:

Dr Larry Steranka, MD of CRT Inc., the company’s US subsidiary, will be chairing a breakout session at BIO2007 on Tuesday 8 May, entitled ‘Bridging the Gap or Vertical Integration?’

Cancer Research Technology

Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT) is a specialist commercialisation and development company, which aims to develop new discoveries in cancer research for the benefit of cancer patients. CRT works closely with leading international cancer scientists and their institutes to protect intellectual property arising from their research and to establish links with commercial partners. CRT facilitates the discovery, development and marketing of new cancer therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics and enabling technologies. 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

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