Industry alliance struck with Pfizer to boost cancer research

The NIHR Clinical Research Network has announced a partnership with Pfizer, which will further maximise UK cancer research activity.

The objective of this industry alliance is to optimise early phase testing of new anti-cancer therapies. Patient benefit is the primary driver; more compounds being tested for clinical effectiveness across a wider range of cancers will ultimately lead to more patients gaining faster access to innovative treatments.

This is the fifth alliance of its type to be signed with a commercial company with further alliances already in existence with AstraZeneca/MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline and Verastem. These existing alliances have resulted in the rapid growth of industry-supported, academically sponsored trials.

Underwritten by a Memorandum of Understanding, the alliances promote and facilitate interaction between expert cancer clinicians through the National Cancer Research Institute Clinical Studies Groups and the companies’ drug development teams. This interaction allows those experts access to compounds for early phase clinical trials, which are additional to the companies’ main research and development effort and often in rarer disease areas.

Under the Network’s Alliance model there are currently over 40 studies in various stages of the study lifecycle, from protocol development to study completion, being delivered in conjunction with 13 different academic clinical trials units across the UK.

George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences, said: “Partnerships between the NIHR and leading life science research and development companies are vital to improve the health and prosperity of the nation through pioneering biomedical innovation. By harnessing the world-leading expertise that exists in our universities and NHS, we can ensure that cancer patients are able to access the latest medical innovations as quickly as possible.”

Find out more about the support on offer to the life-sciences industry via the Clinical Research Network’s dedicated industry support website: www.supportmystudy.nihr.ac.uk.