Bayer HealthCare and German Cancer Research Centre form new alliance

Bayer HealthCare has entered into a new oncology research alliance with the German Cancer Research Centre.

The agreement will extend an existing partnership between the two organisations that commenced in 2009. Up to 30 million euros (24.91 million pounds) in joint funding will be invested in collaborative cancer research over the next half-decade.

Since the collaboration began five years ago, a total of 28 projects have been initiated, with 12 projects having reached important milestones. Two initiatives have successfully passed compound screening, with researchers now identifying drug candidates for clinical testing.

The alliance brings together the centre's scientific expertise as Germany's largest biomedical research institute and Bayer's proven drug discovery and development experience.

Professor Dr Andreas Busch, member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee and head of global drug discovery, said: "This alliance demonstrates Bayer's ongoing commitment to develop innovative therapies that can help patients suffering from cancer."

This comes after the firm allied with Peking University on a three-year strategic partnership to promote translational research for drug discovery last month.