The Drug Development Office (DDO) at Cancer Research UK is a dedicated team with broad experience in the development of oncology therapeutics.
The DDO collaborates with academic and industrial groups in conducting early stage Cancer Research UK sponsored clinical trials reviewed and approved by the New Agents Committee. It does this through its network of internationally-recognised clinical centres located throughout the UK.
The DDO manages and executes drug development programmes from exploratory and preclinical development through to designing, conducting and monitoring high quality, ethical, early phase clinical trials.
By working closely with leading UK scientists and clinicians, the DDO offers both academia and industry a mechanism for developing novel anti-cancer agents. Since its inception in 1982, the DDO has advanced over 100 new agents into first-in-human studies, of which five have been launched onto the market.
Aims of the DDO
- To drive the early development of innovative new cancer medicines through partnership with world class clinical centres, working to the highest scientific and quality standards.
- To increase Cancer Research UK's drug development activity to provide more treatment options for cancer patients.
The DDO has a wide experience of developing diverse ranges of agents with distinct mechanisms of action including: molecularly targeted small molecules, cytotoxic agents, antibodies, vaccines, viral gene therapy, immunotherapy, cell therapy, diagnostic and imaging agents. It has two GMP facilities for the production of Investigational Medicinal Products (IMP): the Formulation Unit (for small molecules) and the Biotherapeutics Development Unit (for biologicals).
The DDO is interested in proposals for scientifically-driven trials of any novel cancer agents and has a current, strategic focus on:
- Combinations of molecularly targeted agents
- Early clinical trials for indications with an unmet clinical need
- Hypothesis-testing Phase II trials
- Promising cancer agents de-prioritised by companies, via the Clinical Development Partnerships initiative.
- Paediatric trials
The DDO has established a collaboration with the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) which is focused on the identification of agents - and conducting trials - for the treatment of children with cancer.
To see the DDO's track record of developing oncology therapeutics, see Track Record.
