Singapore, May 16, 2008: Pfizer has launched Peter MacCallum Pfizer Translational Oncology Research Collaborative Hub (TORCH) at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center.

 

Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr inaugurated the facility.

 

Pfizer, a New York based pharma giant, has committed $15 million funding to support medical research and cancer drug development at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center over the next three years.

 

The collaboration will integrate three key activities to the future of cancer research – molecular imaging, cancer genomics and high quality clinical trial capabilities.  The ultimate outcome will be new and improved treatments for cancer patients and the firming of Australia’s role at the forefront of cancer research internationally.

 

“The development of new cancer treatments has undergone a dramatic change,” Craig Bennett, CEO of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center said. “The emphasis of research has shifted towards personalizing medicine – using information and data from a patient’s genotype to tailor drugs specifically to a patient’s genetic profile. This is designed to work far more efficiently and has the potential to reduce side effects – a ground breaking concept in the treatment of cancer.”

  

“Pfizer and the Peter MacCallum have a rich history of collaboration that has contributed significantly to pre-clinical and clinical cancer drug development programs,” said Dr Daniel Grant, Head of Strategic Alliances for Pfizer Australia.

 

 “This translational research facility will help satisfy Pfizer’s pre-clinical oncology imaging needs, create a dedicated genomics facility for the development of predictive markers of response to novel cancer therapeutics and secure dedicated clinical trials capabilities,” said Dr Grant.

 

“The existing collaboration with the Peter MacCallum is one of the best examples of a truly translational oncology alliance in Australia - where the same investigators who are involved in our preclinical research take the lead in our clinical trials with the same compounds and effectively interact with our discovery and clinical teams.”