AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development arm MedImmune and Cancer Research UK, with its commercial arm, Cancer Research Technology (CRT), has entered into a collaboration.

The aim is to establish a joint laboratory in Cambridge, UK. The new laboratory will focus on the discovery and development of novel biologic cancer treatments over an initial five-year period. AstraZeneca announces that scientists from both organisations will work side-by-side on multiple oncology projects at the new CRUK-MEDI Alliance Laboratory. Cancer Research UK, will provide set-up and operational funding for the laboratory and will contribute a portfolio of novel drug targets together with a team of scientists while MedImmune will oversee the laboratory activities and provide access to its human antibody phage display libraries and antibody-engineering technologies. The joint team will discover and develop antibodies to treat cancer.

“Oncology is a core therapeutic area for AstraZeneca and we are pleased to enter this strategic antibody discovery and development collaboration with Cancer Research UK, one of the leading charitable cancer research institutions in the world,” said Bahija Jallal, Executive Vice President, MedImmune. “Our collaboration represents an innovative public-private business model for biologic drug development as we will share knowledge and expertise in a dedicated laboratory to discover potentially ground-breaking medicines for cancer patients.”