The project will explore the potential of aptamers as therapeutic agents for the treatment of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CMML) and other myeloid malignancies.
Aptamers are synthetic alternatives to antibodies that can be designed as therapeutics to disrupt disease targets and pathways. The partnership intends to build on the initial data showing aptamers with therapeutic potential that can selectively target a key gene fault involved in driving this group of cancers. Tony Hickson, Cancer Research UK’s chief business officer, said: “We’re thrilled to support this collaboration, building on excellence in drug discovery at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute. By bringing together the best minds in academic cancer research with the rigour and drive of industry partners, we can accelerate the development of potentially life-saving new treatments.”
The Cancer Research UK Biotherapeutic Drug Discovery Project Award aims to increase the availability of biotherapeutic drugs for the management of cancer. Aptamers are a relatively young technology, and this will allow the assessment of their potential in a wider therapeutic setting.
Arron Tolley, Aptamer Therapeutics’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are excited to partner with Cancer Research UK and the University of Manchester. This is further validation of the potential of our platform to generate therapeutic molecules for further development.
Notes to Editors
About Cancer Research UK
- Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
- Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
- Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years.
- Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.
- Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
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