AZ announces first oncology Cambridge collaborations

AstraZeneca has agreed to its first three oncology research collaborations, ahead of its relocation to Cambridge by 2016.

These three projects will be with Cancer Research UK and the University of Cambridge's department of oncology. The aim is to try and identify changes in tumor cells and test combinations of its drugs to better treat some cancer patients.

The projects also include finding potential drugs to treat prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer. AstraZeneca (AZ) will work with Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Institute, Addenbrooke's Hospital and Cambridge University Hospital to test AZ's experimental cancer treatment, olaparib, in combination with another therapy, AZD2014, to treat advanced prostate cancer patients with a poor prognosis. Olaparib prevents cancer cells from repairing themselves and has been shown to benefit patients with the BRCA mutations. The combination therapy may help patients without the mutation respond to the treatment.

The move to a £330 million new facility in Cambridge was announced back in March, as part of AstraZeneca's plans to improve pipeline productivity by creating strategic global R&D centres in the UK, US and Sweden.