Library of pharma compounds open for researchers
28 Sep 2016 by Evoluted New Media
In conjunction with the Medical Research Council, six global drug companies have released 47 deprioritised pharmaceutical compounds for scientists.
In conjunction with the Medical Research Council, six global drug companies have released 47 deprioritised pharmaceutical compounds for scientists.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) Industry Asset Sharing Initiative will also have £5m of funding available to scientists who wish to carry out research using these compounds.
Director of translational research and industry at the MRC, Dr Chris Watkins, said: “Academic partners benefit from working hand in hand with industry counterparts from the earliest stages of research through to the development of new products and treatments.”
Many of these compounds were initially developed for a range of diseases such as cancer, narcolepsy, diabetes and ADHD and have been shown to be suitable for human testing; meaning new treatments could reach patients much quicker..
Since 2014, the MRC and a number of companies — AstraZeneca, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda, GSK and UCB — have offered up a number of deprioritised molecules as part of this partnership. A project with a previous compound sharing partnership between the MRC and AstraZeneca has already reached human trials – MORE INFO.
Watkins said: “The MRC is encouraging other companies, large and small, to join in this innovative MRC collaboration designed to speed up the translation of basic science into real health benefits for patients.”
A list of the compounds can be seen here. The deadline to declare interest for funding is 12th October 2016 and enquiries should be sent to Dr Jo Latimer at Joanna.latimer@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk.
