Cancer Research Horizons and Singapore’s Experimental Drug Development Centre announce 5-year alliance

Published date:
March 1 2023

Cancer Research Horizons, the innovation engine at the core of Cancer Research UK and the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), Singapore's national platform for drug discovery and development hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), today (1 March 2023) announced a 5-year alliance. 

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, both partners will explore collaborations to drive forward shared aims of accelerating the translation of cancer research into improved treatments for cancer patients. 

This international alliance will focus on leveraging the complementary capabilities, platforms and technologies from both partners, to accelerate oncology pipeline assets across a range of developmental stages and therapeutic modalities. 

With the breadth and depth of the combined competencies in translating research into impactful therapeutic solutions, the partners in UK and Singapore will seek to identify novel cancer biology and convene joint efforts around target identification and validation, drug discovery and development programmes, thereby advancing cancer research for patients.   

Tony Hickson, Chief Business Officer for Cancer Research UK and Cancer Research Horizons said: “Cancer Research UK has a well-earned reputation for world-class oncology science and research, with Cancer Research Horizons at the helm of the charity’s efforts to drive forward innovation in the field”.  

“But cancer is a global problem and solving it is dependent on us deepening our collaboration with like-minded organisations across the globe. This is why we wholeheartedly welcome the opportunity to work with EDDC which shares our drive to make a real impact on the way we treat and care for people with cancer.” 

Professor Damian O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer, Experimental Drug Development Centre, A*STAR, said: “Our strategic partnership with Cancer Research Horizons underscores the importance of global cooperation in finding solutions for tackling cancer. With the combined strengths of our organisations in the UK and Singapore, we look forward to accelerating the translation of cancer research into impactful solutions to help those affected by this disease.” 

ENDS    

For media enquiries contact Ellie Bennett in the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 3469 5370 or, out of hours, on 07884 466 868.    

About Cancer Research Horizons 

Cancer Research Horizons is the innovation engine of Cancer Research UK – the world's largest charitable funder of cancer research. We bring together world-leading minds, bold ideas and the right partners to bridge the gap between academic research and taking drugs to market. We focus on the tougher, more profound ideas that can lead to true innovation, translating them into effective treatments and diagnostics for cancer patients. To date, we've played an instrumental role in forming over 60 spin-out companies. We've helped bring 11 cancer drugs to market, borne out of Cancer Research UK's pioneering research. Through these drugs, we have enabled in excess of 6 million courses of treatment for cancer patients across the world. With access to Cancer Research UK's network of 4000 exceptional researchers, and £300+ million of annual research spend, we're a powerful partner in the fight to conquer cancer. 

By uniting our commercial partnerships and therapeutic innovation capabilities, Cancer Research Horizons is uniquely placed to support translational funding, licensing and collaboration, spinout creation, and offer a full spectrum of drug discovery and clinical capabilities. Every penny we make goes back into funding the next bold steps, to help bring forward the day when all cancers are conquered. 

About the Experimental Drug Development Centre

The Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC) is Singapore’s national platform for drug discovery and development, formed from the integration of the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC), Drug, Discovery and Development (D3), and Experimental Biotherapeutics Centre (EBC) in 2019. EDDC aims to develop therapeutics and diagnostics that save and improve the lives of patients in Singapore, Asia and around the world. Hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), EDDC works collaboratively with public sector and industry partners to translate the great science arising from Singapore’s biomedical and clinical sciences R&D into innovative healthcare solutions. For more information about EDDC, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg/eddc.

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