GlaxoSmithKline and NCCN collaborate on cancer research

GlaxoSmithKline is providing funding to the US-based National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) to aid research into new cancer drugs.

The pharmaceutical company has awarded a pair of research grants worth $4 million (2.54 million pounds) to NCCN to develop studies evaluating two of its developmental melanoma drugs.

Both GSK2118436 – a BRAF inhibitor – and the MEK1 and MEK2 inhibitor GSK1120212 have been shown in previous studies to be strong candidate therapies, with the new funding to support the launch of investigator-initiated clinical and correlative studies.

The first phase of the new study programme will involve the evaluation of existing data, in order to determine what sort of trial needs to be conducted next.

Diane Paul, vice-president of the NCCN oncology research programme, said: "Both research projects have the potential to drive new breakthroughs in the understanding of both drugs and translating that knowledge into improved treatments for patients with cancer."

Last month, GlaxoSmithKline announced a new partnership with the Formula One manufacturer McLaren Group, which will see the firms exchanging knowledge of technology and strategic models.