By VETTAPHARMA reporter – Derek Roche: UCB, Cancer Research UK, and Cancer Research Horizons announced a new multi-project strategic alliance aimed at accelerating the development of novel cancer therapies through combined discovery, translational research, and clinical development capabilities.
The alliance expands on the companies’ existing collaboration announced in 2023, which advanced two investigational antibody candidates, UCB6114 and UCB4594, into ongoing clinical trials across multiple UK and European sites. Under the new agreement, UCB has nominated two additional oncology projects from its internal pipeline for development.
Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development and Cancer Research Horizons’ Therapeutic Innovation teams will work with UCB to progress investigational therapeutics from early research stages through preclinical development and into Phase 1/2 clinical trials. The Centre for Drug Development will lead trial design, sponsorship, and clinical execution for each selected programme.
The collaboration reflects UCB’s strategy of strengthening its oncology pipeline through external innovation partnerships, while leveraging Cancer Research UK’s translational oncology expertise, clinical investigator network, and drug development infrastructure. Research and development costs will be jointly funded, with UCB retaining exclusive commercialization rights to all programmes entering the alliance.
Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development has completed more than 170 clinical trials over 30 years, with six anti-cancer agents reaching the market, including temozolomide, abiraterone, and rucaparib, highlighting the translational experience supporting the collaboration.
For patients, the alliance is expected to support faster advancement of investigational oncology candidates into clinical testing, potentially improving access to innovative therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers.
From a commercial and strategic perspective, the collaboration strengthens UCB’s long-term oncology ambitions and expands its access to early-stage cancer innovation, supporting future pipeline growth and development opportunities in precision oncology.
