GSK Launches Cancer Research Consortium

GlaxoSmithKline has formed the Oncology Clinical and Translational Consortium (OCTC), a scientific research network comprised of six international cancer centers.  The center includes Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France), the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, US), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), Netherlands Cancer Institute (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network (Toronto), and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (Barcelona).

In forming the consortium, GSK will gain OCTC’s knowledge in preclinical, translational, and clinical development of anticancer therapeutics including kinase inhibitors, epigenome-modulating compounds, and immunotherapies. The centers will have access to studies with GSK’s early-stage oncology pipeline and opportunities to advance oncology therapeutics.  OCTC will foster scientific collaboration among the members and GSK.

Consortium members were selected for their international leadership and expertise in oncology research.  Members will collaborate on processes to ensure the highest quality standards for the collection of biological samples as well as the conduct of biomarker and clinical research.  Projects driven through the OCTC will include Phase I and II single agent and novel combination trials with GSK’s targeted and immune therapies as well as translational and preclinical studies.