What agents do we want?

Clinical Development Partnerships (CDP) focuses exclusively on de-prioritised anti-cancer agents, which still have the potential to be developed. We have a primary interest in novel molecularly targeted small molecules and select biological therapeutics, in particular monoclonal antibodies. All targets and indications are welcome, including any niche indications where the market size may be smaller and of less interest to commercial parties.

CDP will also consider re-purposed agents (which have previously been in trials in another therapeutic area), improved derivatives and back-up drugs (which have a different mode of delivery and/or may be developed for a different cancer indication to the lead compound which is not of interest to the company). We will also consider repeating Phase I clinical trials where we believe the trial design could be improved to add value to the programme and bring it back into clinical development.

In some instances, it is expected that the agent will have a full pre-clinical toxicology package and material available for the study, in particular if a Phase I study has previously been undertaken. However this is not essential and as a minimum, CDP would seek in vivo proof of principle data and information on the synthetic route and/or method of production to enable us to undertake the additional work required before taking the agent into the clinic.

Cell and gene therapy fall outside of CDP's remit together with any non-therapeutics such as diagnostics, imaging agents and delivery vehicles. If you have any agents which fall into this category you may wish to contact the Cancer Research UK Drug Development Office to see how they may be able to assist you.