AstraZeneca, SCRI to jointly develop oncology compound

Under the agreement, SCRI will partner with AstraZeneca to provide clinical programme development expertise, clinical programme design, medical oversight and trial management.

The first clinical trial to be conducted under the agreement was initiated in November 2010, while the first patient enrolment in this trial was initiated on 23 November 2010.

Potential benefits from this partnership include enhanced strategic clinical development in pursuit of new and effective cancer therapies, flexibility in programme design and implementation, leveraging the strengths of collaboration, rapid patient enrollment, and innovation through realizing efficiencies across the collaboration.

SCRI CEO Dee Anna Smith said the company is pleased to engage in this strategic collaboration, bringing together some of the world’s strongest physicians and scientists to optimize the development of new therapies for patients with cancer.

"We look forward to providing AstraZeneca with exceptional drug development services while leveraging an industry-leading opportunity to explore a new way for pharmaceutical drug development companies to collaborate," Smith said.