Bristol-Myers sets up global accord with academia for immune-oncology

US drug major Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) yesterday announced the formation of the International Immuno-Oncology Network (II-ON), a global collaboration between industry and academia that aims to further the scientific understanding of immuno-oncology, which focuses on the potential of harnessing the intelligence of the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.

An objective of this collaborative forum is to facilitate the translation of scientific research findings into clinical trials and, eventually, clinical practice. It will also work to further advance innovation in drug discovery and development.

In addition to Bristol-Myers Squibb, the II-ON is currently comprised of 10 leading cancer-research institutions, including:

• Clinica Universidad Navarra, Pamplona, Spain;
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA;
• The Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (Providence Health & Services), Portland, USA;
• Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France;
• Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori “Fondazione G Pascale,” Naples, Italy;
• Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, USA;
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York;
• The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK;
• The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands; and
• The University of Chicago, Chicago, USA.