 Press ReleasesSummer 2004 Messenger - Yorkshire Cancer Research Newsletter A Commercial Reality Yorkshire Cancer Research enlists commercial partners to expand research in Leeds and York In the past, much of the research that YCR has funded has been hugely useful to our scientists and clinicians and has significantly increased the understanding of cancer. However, we have not had the resources to develop our discoveries to a stage where they can be used in the clinic. To develop further our ability to do this, we have formed two 'joint venture' companies with universities in which our researchers are based, and their venture capital partners. While YCR funds pure research projects and has enjoyed great successes, to develop our findings to a stage where they are actual treatments is often beyond our means. Consequently there is a gap between the discovery of a viable way of identifying the cause and cure of cancer, and presenting it to the patient. Extensive trials of new procedures in cancer treatments are constantly being developed and undertaken by Yorkshire Cancer Research. This provides the initial laboratory proof of effectiveness and clinical trials establish the safety of potential treatments. Photopharmica Ltd has been set up at Leeds to develop the findings of Professor Stan Brown's YCR funded team working on photodynamic therapy, particularly with skin cancers, to clinical use. Procure Ltd has been set up at York to develop discoveries made by Professor Norman Maitland's team, working primarily in the area of prostate cancer. The company is researching not only treatments, but also a sophisticated process by which potential new treatments can be screened quickly, accurately and without the use of animal models. Due to the commercial nature of both companies, and the close association with the two universities, they are able to secure funding from venture capital firms. These are highly significant commercial ventures and they should, eventually, produce financial return for the shareholders, including YCR. As a charity, YCR is not in the business of profiting from commercial ventures, but provided there is suitable cancer research taking place, any money that is due to us as a shareholder will be ploughed back into the relevant university. Yorkshire Cancer Research does not risk anything in its part ownership of the two companies. YCR's contribution is always the intellectual property (the idea). Nick Varey, Vice-Chairman of YCR, told us, "Commercial setups to deliver procedures to the patients are in no way a drain on our resources. It is important that we manage and use Yorkshire Cancer Research resources so as to maximise our potential. In creating commercial relationships with the results of our research I am convinced that we are furthering cancer research here in Yorkshire." > menu |
