GlaxoSmithKline forms new international cancer research consortium

GlaxoSmithKline has announced the formation of a major new collaborative cancer research project known as the Oncology Clinical and Translational Consortium.

The new consortium consists of six internationally renowned comprehensive cancer centres, including two sites in the US and a further four in Canada, Spain, the Netherlands and France.

GlaxoSmithKline will be able to take advantage of its new partners' expertise in preclinical, translational and clinical development of novel anticancer therapeutics, including priority research fields such as kinase inhibitors, epigenome modulating compounds and immunotherapies.

In exchange, the six centres will gain access to the pharmaceutical company's early-stage oncology pipeline and benefit from opportunities to advance the next generation of novel oncology therapeutics.

Rafael Amado, head of oncology research and development at GlaxoSmithKline, said: "The consortium together with GlaxoSmithKline will design and execute research programmes in a focused and expeditious way, allowing us to potentially develop new diagnostic tools and medicines to better treat cancer patients."

This follows the company's formation of an oncology research alliance with Cancer Research Technology and the University of Manchester last week.