Indivumed, URMC Launch Joint Venture for Patient-Centric Cancer R&D

The Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, NY, will be partnering with the biotechnology company Indivumed to accelerate development of novel cancer therapeutics, leveraging Indivumed’s expertise in standardized tissue and clinical data collection for patient-centric cancer R&D, the two entities announced on Dec. 10, 2025 (1).

Indivumed, of Hamburg, Germany, is no stranger to cancer-centered collaborations; in August 2021, the company announced a partnership with Veraxa Biotech for the discovery and development of modulatory and functional antibodies against several targets relevant for colorectal cancer (2).

URMC’s role will be to collect and process high-quality biosamples and clinical patient data, with the collaboration initially focusing on advanced stages of solid cancers with high medical need, including colorectal, pancreatic, lung, and breast cancers, with aspirations for future expansion (1, Figure).

What are both sides saying about the collaboration?

“We are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with URMC, significantly enhancing our ability to identify novel cancer therapeutics in a truly patient-centered approach,” said Hartmut Juhl, MD, CEO and founder of Indivumed, in a company press release (1). “We will develop primary tumor models for the testing of novel compounds against targets which have been identified by our unique AI-powered data analytical capabilities to bring novel therapeutics to patients as fast and precisely as possible.”

“We have worked with Indivumed successfully in the past and our familiarity with their tissue and multi-omics data approach will provide an excellent foundation,” Hartmut “Hucky” Land, PhD, deputy director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, said in the press release (1). “The new project will create greater opportunities to identify new therapeutics and biomarkers, uncover insights on the right target-patient match for clinical decision-making, and thus help advance cancer care.”

How else is cancer care evolving?

Bio/pharmaceutical companies and academia are being joined by government entities in select sectors of the fight against cancer. In November 2025, the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory and Medicines Discovery Catapult announced they were co-leading a project to utilize recycled nuclear materials for the development of next-generation cancer treatments—harvesting a radionuclide known as lead-212, from used nuclear fuel, to create treatments called Targeted Alpha Therapies (3).

At the same time, the concept of patient-centric care is receiving increased attention and emphasis; in Pharmaceutical Technology® and BioPharm International®’s October 2025 Trends in Formulation eBook, Laura Owens and Yeli Zhang, PhD, of Roquette examined this approach to drug development through the lens of innovations in oral liquid drug delivery formulations.

“Patient-centric drug development is essential to improve patient outcomes, experience, and engagement,” Owens and Zhang wrote (4). “By focusing on patients’ needs, experiences, and preferences, drug developers can create treatments that are optimally effective and tolerated. This leads to improved adherence to treatment regimens and better overall health outcomes when compared with not taking these factors into consideration.”

The Trends in Formulation eBook can be accessed in its entirety at this link.

References

1. Indivumed. Indivumed and University of Rochester Medical Center Expand Collaboration for Patient-Centric Discovery of Novel Therapeutics. Press Release. Dec. 10, 2025.
2. Veraxa. Veraxa Biotech and Indivumed Cooperate on the Development of Precision Oncology Antibody Drugs. Press Release. Aug. 10, 2021.
3. UKNNL. UK Nuclear Revolution Powers Next-Generation Precision Cancer Therapies. Press Release. Nov. 18, 2025.
4. Owens, L.; Zhang, Y. Selecting the Right Drug Delivery Formulations to Enhance Patient-Centric Care. BioPharm International®/ Pharmaceutical Technology®/ Pharmaceutical Technology® Europe Trends in Formulation eBook 2025 October.