AstraZeneca and Cancer Research UK to trial new treatments

AstraZeneca has allied with Cancer Research UK in order to conduct clinical studies of experimental cancer drug combinations.

The pharmaceutical company has signed a strategic combinations alliance with the research charity to conduct early stage trials that combine molecularly targeted experimental therapies developed by AstraZeneca.

These UK-based trials will also utilise the combination therapies alongside conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other novel agents, with the ultimate aim of helping to tackle the issue of cancer drug resistance.

Kate Miller, head of the combinations alliance at Cancer Research UK's drug development office, said this agreement will improve access to promising new treatments among British patients.

She added: "This initiative will provide a huge boost to the UK research community in developing exciting new combination therapies."

This comes in the same month that AstraZeneca's new thyroid cancer therapy vandetanib was given an extended review timeline by healthcare regulators in the US.