CR UK to develop AstraZeneca drug

UK charitable research body Cancer Research UK has entered into a drug development collaboration with a novel risk-sharing structure to advance a promising preclinical-stage compound from AstraZeneca.

The Anglo-Swedish drug major's tyrosine kinase inhibitor AZD0424 is the first drug to enter CRUK's Clinical Development Partnerships program. Launched in 2006 to support the continuing development of promising cancer drugs, the scheme offers companies an alternative model to traditional out-licensing, enabling them to retain rights to a compound throughout development. AZD0424 is expected to enter Phase I trials within the next 18 months.

Under the terms of the partnership deal, CR UK's Drug Development Office will conduct the clinical trials at no cost to AstraZeneca, which retains the option to assume further development and marketing of the drug, with the charity receiving a share of any revenues. Potential downstream royalties have not been disclosed.