AstraZeneca and CRT to collaborate

AstraZeneca and Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the commercial development company owned by Cancer Research UK, have entered into a partnership to research colorectal cancer.

The new agreement will see AstraZeneca scientists working with their CRT counterparts to characterise the expression of certain genes thought to be involved in the onset of colorectal cancer. CRT and the Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, led by Sir Walter Bodmer, will provide data and critical reagents, while the programme of research will be taken on by AstraZeneca.

By furthering the understanding of the molecular pathology of the disease, AstraZeneca hopes it will be able to enhance its colorectal cancer portfolio and help in the identification of new targets and compounds.

Sir Walter commented: “The information collected will greatly enhance our ability to relate and target drug responses to the molecular pathology of colorectal cancers.”

Dr Les Hughes, AstraZeneca’s head of cancer and infection research, added: “This is a promising collaboration which builds on the strengths of both institutions.”

“By combining our expertise I am confident that this partnership will result in findings which will ultimately benefit cancer patients,” he concluded.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common in the UK, with nearly 34,900 new cases diagnosed every year, according to Cancer Research UK.

More than eight out of ten bowel cancers are diagnosed in people aged over 60. Only lung and breast cancers are more common, the charity claims.

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