Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

The new bespoke building will house Cancer Research UK’s Biotherapeutics Development Unit (BDU) and will be responsible for developing antibodies, gene therapies and cancer vaccines for use in clinical trials.

By moving from refurbished facilities at Cancer Research UK’s Clare Hall Laboratories to a stand alone building on the same site, BDU will be able to expand its number of researchers and increase the focus on bringing the latest scientific developments to patients’ bedsides.

Initial plans for the facility include spending £3.5 million of the total allocation on new equipment and increasing BDU staff from seven to 15 through new appointments. Further as yet unconfirmed growth is planned after the May 2009 completion date.

This is expected to significantly increase the number of biological treatments produced by Cancer Research UK for testing in humans.

The BDU facility plays a crucial role in producing new biological therapies, which will be tested in early clinical trials through the charity’s Drug Development Office. If successful, they could one day be used to treat cancer patients, helping turn scientists’ discoveries into potentially life-saving treatments.

Biological therapies are developed from natural substances in the body. They fight cancer by either specifically targeting cancer cells, encouraging the body’s immune system to attack the cancer or by preventing abnormal genes from working.

Gillian Lewis, head of BDU, said: “The new facility is a hugely exciting development for the charity, giving us a building designed specifically for the BDU from the inside out.

“Biotherapeutics really are at the cutting edge in terms of the development of new cancer treatments, and in order to achieve significant advances we need the best facilities. That’s exactly what the new building gives us.”

Cancer Research UK has taken over 100 potential new treatments from the lab and into clinical trials in patients. Four of these have reached the market with many others at different stages of development.
Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive added: “Bridging the gap between the bench and the bedside is especially challenging in the development of biological treatments, with a great deal of work necessary before new treatments can be used in clinical trials.

“Ensuring that patients continue to benefit from the latest research into cancer treatments is crucial for the charity. The new BDU facility a vitally important development in making this happen.”

The new BDU facility follows hot on the heels of the establishment of Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute (CRI). The Institute is housed in the custom-built £50 million Li Ka Shing Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. An additional £15 million was spent on capital investment and infrastructure.