Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announced that it is partnering with Array BioPharma to develop new immuno-oncology treatments with potential applications in a wide range of cancers.
Researchers at Dana-Farber’s Robert and Renée Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science will work with Array scientists on immunotherapeutic targets with the potential of being developed into new therapeutics for patients. The collaboration will leverage the Belfer Center’s proprietary immuno-oncology platform, and the two organization’s expertise — Dana Farber in onocology and Array in drug development — may advance the discovery of effective medicines for unmet medical needs.
“We are very enthusiastic about working with Array to develop novel immune-oncology drugs because their team has a strong track record of drug discovery success yielding innovative cancer therapies. Together we have the potential to deliver novel molecules that target unique mechanisms to harness the immune system and result in durable efficacy,” Kwok-Kin Wong, MD, PhD, scientific co-director at the Belfer Center, said in a press release.
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute was the first to achieve cancer remissions in children using chemotherapy in 1948, and today maintains a 50/50 balance between cancer research and care. The Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science is an industry-led center working to translate oncology research into cancer treatments, particularly in the areas of immuno-oncology, drug resistance, target discovery, and blood-based biomarkers.
Array BioPharma Inc. is focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing targeted small molecule drugs for cancer treatments. Six registration studies are now ongoing, evaluating three cancer drugs — selumetinib (AstraZeneca), encorafenib (LGX818), and binimetinib (MEK162).
“We are excited to partner with the Dana-Farber scientists at the Belfer Center. Their capabilities perfectly synergize with the capabilities and drug discovery track record of Array. Specifically, their expertise in target validation, pre-clinical models of immunotherapeutic activity and translational medicine will greatly enable Array’s ability to deliver innovative therapeutics in this area,” said Nick Saccomano, PhD, CSO at Array.
