Drug Development Project

The Drug Development Project is a Cancer Research UK scheme that supports development of new cancer treatments from preclinical through to early phase patient trials. It provides scientific, clinical and project management support, sponsorship and staff resources via the Centre for Drug Development to advance novel agents toward and through early clinical development. The scheme is intended for novel cancer agents approaching preclinical and/or clinical development and considers small molecules, biologicals and other therapeutics.

Scientific support to complete preclinical data packages, managed clinical development, sponsorship of trials, management of regulatory documents and communications, protocol design and trial management, oversight of trial safety and clinical data, and treatment of patients in UK and European clinical centres with expert investigators. A project team is allocated to work in partnership with the applicant.

Applicants must be based at an academic institution or a pharmaceutical or biotech company (UK or international). Applicants must contact Cancer Research UK for a confidential discussion to determine eligibility and to receive guidance on submitting a proposal.

Contact Cancer Research UK for a confidential discussion including a short project outline. If required, a Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be set up. Applicants should provide project background, stage of development, manufacturing and agent data, in vitro/in vivo data, IP position and proposed next steps.