Potential to fast-track drugs in new Cancer Research UK partnership with AstraZeneca and Pfizer

British charity Cancer Research UK has joined forces with Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) and US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to create a pioneering clinical trial for patients with advanced lung cancer.

The National Lung Matrix trial, scheduled to open later this year at centers across the UK, will give researchers access to libraries of drugs developed by the two companies, allowing several to be tested at the same time within one trial. Researchers will use the genetics of each lung tumor to identify patient populations who are more likely to benefit from a certain drug because of the specific genetic changes causing their cancer. They will then look for signs of improvement, such as increased survival, tumor shrinkage or an alleviation of symptoms. Medicines that show promise in the small groups of patients may be fast-tracked into larger trials involving more patients with the same genetic changes.

Up to 14 medicines could be included; up to 12 from AstraZeneca and its biologics research arm MedImmune, and two from Pfizer. These medicines target very specific and often rare mutations, meaning they could offer hope for patients who would otherwise have very limited treatment options. Cancer Research UK, AstraZeneca and Pfizer are jointly funding the program, with support from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), representing about £25 million ($42 million) worth of research.