Cancer Research UK, LifeArc and Ono form cancer immunotherapy alliance

Cancer Research UK, LifeArc and Ono form cancer immunotherapy alliance

New immunotherapy drug targets for cancer will be progressed through a multimillion-pound drug discovery alliance between Cancer Research UK, LifeArc and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

The collaboration will identify targets for the development of both antibody and small molecule therapeutics. Funded by investment from Ono and LifeArc, drug discovery experts will be pursuing targets within Cancer Research UK’s portfolio of immuno-oncology research.

Under the terms of the deal, LifeArc will progress antibody projects via its antibody screening and development expertise. Small molecule projects will be taken forward by Cancer Research UK’s Therapeutic Discovery Labs.

Dr Hamish Ryder, director of Cancer Research UK's Therapeutic Discovery Labs, said:

"This unique alliance is a melting pot of world-leading cancer research and each organisation’s extensive expertise in oncology drug discovery" - Dr Hamish Ryder, director of Cancer Research UK's Therapeutic Discovery Labs

Ono will have option rights to licence the outputs of the alliance, and take on clinical development and commercialisation of successful projects with worldwide exclusive rights. Cancer Research UK and LifeArc will receive an upfront access fee for entering the alliance, as well as additional upfront, milestone, and royalty payments for licensed projects.

Dr Hamish Ryder continued: “We’re thrilled to welcome Ono to join and expand our successful collaboration with LifeArc and create one of our most ambitious alliances to date.

“As we enter into a new age of immuno-therapeutic approaches to cancer care, we hope that this partnership will accelerate the development of new treatments, bringing them to patients with cancer much faster.”

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This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

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