The current cancer drug development process is expensive, takes too long
The National Growth Fund is investing 325 million euros in Oncode-PACT, a unique national consortium to which researchers from Amsterdam UMC are also associated. This was announced by Minister Micky Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate. With this funding, the consortium will develop potential cancer drugs faster and cheaper, so that they reach patients sooner.
The development of a medicine takes on average 10 to 15 years, calculated from the first scientific insights until the moment that patients have access to it. At the end of this lengthy development process, it happens too often that the drug candidate does not work well enough or does not reach the right patient.
The current development process of cancer drugs is therefore expensive, takes too long, usually only works for some patients and the patient who is now ill is of no use. Oncode-PACT aims to provide solutions to these problems.
With the approach envisaged by the consortium, it is already clear before the clinical trial in which group of patients the greatest effectiveness can be expected and under which circumstances. This makes it possible to tackle the important phase of clinical research in a more targeted, small-scale and faster way.
Impact on patients
The way of working within Oncode-PACT ensures that patients can be helped as early as possible and better. As a result, it will be possible in the future at a much earlier stage of someone’s disease process to offer tailor-made treatment and thus make a difference. Tanja de Gruijl, Professor of Translational Tumor Immunology: “With this award, we can make great strides in setting up our recently established immunotherapy center and immune monitoring unit. This ensures a faster translation of new concepts and immunotherapies for cancer into the clinic.”
What is Oncode-PACT
Oncode-PACT is a national consortium of public and private partners, of which the Oncode Institute is the lead party. It focuses on accelerating immunotherapeutic applications for cancer treatment (especially vaccines) in the clinic. Amsterdam UMC researchers Tanja de Gruijl (medical oncology), Arjan Griffioen (medical oncology) and Yvette van Kooyk (molecular cell biology and immunology) are associated with this.
About the National Growth Fund
With the National Growth Fund, the government will invest 20 billion euros between 2021 and 2025 in projects that ensure long-term structural and sustainable economic growth. It concerns projects in the field of research, development and innovation in the areas where the Netherlands has the most opportunities.
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