AstroZeneca and University of Cambridge team up for more projects

Pharmaceutical developers AstraZeneca announced Oct. 16 that the company’s research and development division, MedImmune, will be collaborating with the University of Cambridge on four new projects.

In addition to ongoing oncology research, the partnership will be undertaking three years of research in neuroscience, including studies focusing on biomarkers, translational research and drug development for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. UC will be providing researchers, tissue samples and subject models to be applied to AstraZeneca’s molecular imaging technology. Other projects focus on researcher and entrepreneurial training.

“This strategic partnership will promote an increased understanding of disease mechanisms and enable work in basic neuroscience to address unmet therapeutic needs in a variety of serious neurodegenerative diseases,” said Alastair Compston, PhD, professor of neurology from the University of Cambridge, in a press release. “We look forward to working with scientists from MedImmune and AstraZeneca to increase knowledge on brain function and apply this to common neurological conditions.”

As part of the agreement, AstraZeneca will provide the UC access to several investigational agents, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor AZD9291 for non-small cell lung cancer.

“We are excited to establish this prestigious strategic alliance between AstraZeneca, MedImmune and the University of Cambridge to progress high quality scientific research,” said Bahija Jallal, MedImmune executive vice president. “We will work together to discover and develop new medicines that could have a significant impact on the health of patients with neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.”