Cancer Research and AstraZeneca expand cancer metabolism alliance

Cancer Research and AstraZeneca have extended their multi-project cancer metabolism alliance for an extra two years.

The project will now run for three years and aims to produce a drugs pipeline targeting cancer metabolism, with the extension facilitating the possibility of a minimum of two new projects to be selected by CRT from Cancer Research UK's cancer metabolism research.

The prep work investigates how cancer cells make use of energy to survive and grow, particularly under conditions of nutrient and hypoxic stress from rapidly growing tumours.

Cell metabolism is often manipulated in cancer cells and new drugs which control a cell's metabolism could attack a tumour's weak spot and spare normal tissues.

Susan Galbraith, head of the AstraZeneca Oncology Innovative Medicines Unit at AstraZeneca, said: "Our continued alliance with CRT allows AstraZeneca to collaborate with leading scientists in the field of cancer metabolism and to further build on our efforts to identify new agents to target cancer cells’ dependence on altered metabolic pathways for their survival."

AstraZeneca will take the most promising projects forward into pre-clinical and clinical drug development.

The business recently announced its fourth quarter and full year results for 2012.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of the company, stated that AstraZeneca's 2012 performance reflects a period of "significant patent expiry and tough market conditions".

"I am excited about AstraZeneca’s fundamental strengths which will be key in returning the Company to growth and achieving scientific leadership while maintaining our reputation for strong financial discipline.

"It is my firm belief that we have the brands, science, pipeline and people to create distinctive, long-term value for patients and shareholders."

The company's revenue for the full year stood at $27,973 million (£18 million), which fell 15 per cent at CER.

Reasons for the drop include a loss of exclusivity of several brands and the disposals of Astra Tech and Aptium.

Posted by Ben Evans