Lilly and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announce new research alliance

Lilly has announced a new multiyear medicine research collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Over the course of the three years, Dana-Farber will provide research and development expertise for a number of early-stage Lilly oncology compounds, with scientists from both organisations to work collaboratively.

The collaboration will encompass preclinical and clinical studies, molecular studies of patient samples and the design and conduct of clinical trials, all of which may result in important advances in the science of cancer care.

Dana-Farber scientists will also be able to conduct independent studies on select Lilly compounds. These compounds will still be fully owned by Lilly, even after Dana-Farber's research.

Dr Richard Gaynor, senior vice-president product development and medical affairs for Lilly Oncology, said: "Lilly's partnership with Dana-Farber demonstrates an open, collaborative research approach – uniting the expertise of the pharmaceutical industry with that of a leading academic cancer research institution."

This comes after the firm announced a collaboration with AstraZeneca last month to study a new immuno-oncology combination therapy.