Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have announces a new collaboration with Pfizer to develop immune-based approaches to new therapies for cancer. This new effort is based on M.D. Anderson’s Moon Shots Program that aims to reduce cancer deaths significantly in the future, using the 6 moon shots that target 8 types of difficult-to-treat cancer.
“Cancer immunotherapy is the most exciting and promising advance in the cancer field today,” said M.D. Anderson President Ronald DePinho, MD. “Pfizer’s strong experience in immunology and cancer therapeutics is an outstanding match for the talent and capabilities available through M.D. Anderson’s immunotherapy platform,” Dr DePinho added.
This 3-year agreement is designed to accelerate the development of immunotherapies in cancer and to further investigate promising combination therapies, as well as the use of new biomarkers to guide and monitor therapy.
“This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to work directly with recognized pioneers in the rapidly advancing field of cancer immunotherapy,” said Jaume Pons, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of the Rinat biotechnology unit at Pfizer, which is a leading research effort on antibody drug development. “We look forward to partnering with the researchers and clinicians in the Moon Shots Program to potentially bring new treatment approaches to cancer patients,” Dr Pons noted.
Last October, M.D. Anderson’s Moon Shots Program received an additional $50-million gift, bringing the total gifts of the program to $139 million, providing a strong foundation for this effort to advance cancer research. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Press Release; January 6, 2014
