Alliance Boots and EORTC form cancer research partnership

Alliance Boots is allying with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in a partnership aimed at bolstering cancer research efforts in the region.

The alliance will last for at least the next five years and will aim to raise five million euros (4.43 million pounds) to support the creation and continued funding of a biobank for colorectal cancer research.

Financial support will also be provided for the creation of a new blood sampling platform, which will aid genetic profiling initiatives.

Alliance Boots states that this new partnership will complement its existing work with Macmillan Cancer Support, offering an opportunity to improve healthcare standards on an international scale.

Ornella Barra, chair of the social responsibilities committee for Alliance Boots, said: "We hope that with the support of our colleagues across the group, we can really make a difference in the fight against cancer, for both current and future generations."

According to preliminary results released last month, the company generated revenue of 20.2 billion pounds in the 12 months ending in March 2011, up by 15.1 percent year on year.