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

In forming the consortium, GSK will gain OCTC’s experience in preclinical, translational and clinical development of novel anticancer therapeutics including kinase inhibitors, epigenome modulating compounds and immunotherapies, which are key areas of focus of GSK’s cancer research drug discovery. The centers will have access to studies with GSK’s early stage oncology pipeline and opportunities to advance the next generation of novel oncology therapeutics. OCTC will foster scientific collaboration among the members and GSK.

Consortium members were selected for their international leadership and experience in oncology research.  Members will collaborate on processes to ensure the highest quality standards for collection of biological samples, as well as conduct of biomarker and clinical research. 

Rafael Amado, head oncology R&D at GlaxoSmithKline, said,  “The consortium, together with GSK, will design and execute research programs in a focused and expeditious way, allowing us to potentially develop new diagnostic tools and medicines to better treat cancer patients.”

Projects driven through the OCTC will include phase I/II single agent and novel combination trials with GSK’s targeted and immune therapies as well as translational and preclinical studies.