Our partnerships
Cancer Research Horizons partners across the fields of academia, industry, drug discovery and investors.
The extension to this alliance follows a successful one-year target validation and drug discovery feasibility partnership between CRT’s Discovery Laboratories (CRT-DL) in London and Cambridge and Merck at Darmstadt in Germany.
In conjunction with Cancer Research UK’s network of key academic scientists, led by Dr Nic Tapon and Dr Barry Thompson, based at the Francis Crick Institute in London, the alliance has developed a better understanding of the role of the Hippo pathway in cancer, and how best to drug key targets.
In healthy cells the Hippo pathway regulates cell size, controlling the growth of tissues during development and regeneration. But, abnormal activation of proteins controlled by the Hippo pathway has been linked to the development of a range of cancers, making it an attractive area for the discovery of novel therapies.
The partnership has now moved into full drug discovery with the aim of eventually identifying molecules to take into preclinical studies and clinical trials. Dr Tapon will remain a key participant in the alliance moving forwards.
CRT will receive royalties and milestone payments from the deal to be invested into Cancer Research UK’s lifesaving research. Dr Iain Foulkes, Cancer Research Technology’s chief executive, said: “The extension and expansion of this alliance showcases the success of Cancer Research Technology’s Discovery Laboratories drug discovery approach in moving forward exciting new approaches to cancer therapy. We’ve brought together leading academics in the field and industry to build on world-class research, and we’re now focused on developing these early projects for the benefit of cancer patients.”
Dr Hamish Ryder, Cancer Research Technology’s director of drug discovery, said: “This important research highlights our expertise in applying translational thinking to novel, very early stage science.”
For media enquiries contact Ailsa Stevens in the Cancer Research Technology press office on 020 3469 8300 or, out of hours, on 07050 264 059.
Notes to Editors
About Cancer Research Technology
Cancer Research Technology (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 a wholly owned subsidiary of Cancer Research UK, the world's leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. Further information about CRT can be found at commercial.cancerresearchuk.org and about Cancer Research UK at www.cancerresearchuk.org
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.
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
