AstraZeneca partners on new Functional Genomics Centre

Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) today announced a new collaboration with Cancer Research UK to launch a center of excellence in genetic screening, cancer modelling and big data processing aimed at accelerating the discovery of new cancer medicines.

The Functional Genomics Centre will further develop CRISPR technology to better understand the biology of cancer, creating biological models that may be more reflective of human disease, and advancing computational approaches to better analyse big datasets. These approaches are designed to inform new druggable targets in oncology by using clinical insights to better understand tumour disease and resistance mechanisms.

Mene Pangalos, executive vice president, innovative medicines and early development, AstraZeneca, said: “The best science doesn’t happen in isolation which is why AstraZeneca is committed to advancing innovative science through collaboration. This new center of excellence with Cancer Research UK will combine our expertise in functional genomics and CRISPR technology to identify new biological pathways driving disease and will accelerate the development of new cancer medicines for patients.”