Daiichi Sankyo joins Milner Therapeutics Consortium

The Milner team works closely with this unique grouping of pharma companies to advance research towards new therapeutics across multiple disease areas, catalysing pre-clinical research collaborations with academics across Cambridge and providing early sight of startups.

The Consortium has recently been renewed until 2029, providing exciting opportunities for new partnerships around priority industry challenges.

This collaboration is a key step for the external reach of Daiichi Sankyo in the UK, working through its Daiichi Sankyo Research Institute in Munich.

Through the Milner Consortium, Daiichi Sankyo will be able to establish research collaborations of mutual benefit with academics across Cambridge.

The company has a key focus on developing novel medicines in oncology, as well as other research areas centred around cardiovascular diseases and immune disorders, and these will be priorities for engagement here in Cambridge.

With more than 120 years of experience, Daiichi Sankyo leverages its world-class science and technology to create new modalities and innovative medicines for people with cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases with high unmet medical need.

Dr Alison Schuldt, Head of Partnerships and Alliance, Milner Therapeutics Institute, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Daiichi Sankyo to the Milner Consortium, and look forward to working with new colleagues to initiate impactful collaborations. Through the Milner programme of activities, we provide a gateway into Cambridge academic research, which can be particularly valuable for R & D teams based outside the UK."

Dr Yuki Abe, Head of R & D Division in Japan and Head of Research, Daiichi Sankyo, added: “Daiichi Sankyo established the Daiichi Sankyo Research Institute in Munich in September 2024 to build new and strengthen existing research collaborations within Europe’s renowned innovation hubs.

“Given Cambridge’s reputation for world-class research, we are confident that joining the Milner Therapeutics Consortium will significantly enhance our research efforts and support our common goal of developing innovative medicines for patients."

• If you are a pharma company interested in the Consortium model or an academic with a potential pre-clinical collaborative project that would benefit from industry expertise and know-how, contact the Consortium at any time for a meeting. E: consortium@milner.cam.ac.uk