Lilly and Cancer Research UK announce new collaboration

Lilly has joined forces with British research charity Cancer Research UK on a new collaboration that will facilitate the development of innovative new therapies.

The firm will be joining Cancer Research UK's Combinations Alliance, which aims to bring targeted experimental molecules, owned by pharmaceutical companies, to clinical trials as soon as possible, meaning patients will be able to benefit from potential new treatments sooner.

Studies will be conducted to test these new therapies alongside other treatment combinations, such as conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as multi-pronged treatment approaches can be used to attack cancer on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Trials will be managed and run by the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Network, with Lilly set to provide access to selected molecules, as well as funding support.

Dr Richard Gaynor, vice-president for oncology product development and medical affairs at Lilly, said: "Our priority is to speed innovation that will improve outcomes for individual patients facing cancer and we are committed to developing novel treatment approaches."

Earlier this year, Lilly was responsible for publishing a UK survey showing that many people in Britain are still pessimistic about cancer therapies, with 42 percent still viewing a cancer diagnosis as a death sentence.