Alliance with France's Institut Paoli-Calmettes focuses on
cancer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Nov. 18, 2009 -- TGen Drug Development (TD2)
and the Institut Paoli-Calmettes (IPC) have forged a strategic
alliance that will enable both to maximize their worldwide
contributions in the treatment of cancer patients.
The partnership between TD2, a Scottsdale subsidiary of the
Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), and
Marseille, France-based IPC's comprehensive cancer center will
enable both non-profit institutes to speed research discoveries to
patients with cancer.
Both organizations will expand their clinical research network to
evaluate new therapies in the U.S. and Europe in an effort to more
quickly introduce new drugs into clinical trials.
Teams from both TD2 and IPC will focus their efforts on
discovering molecular alterations within cancers and finding
biomarkers that will help identify new therapeutic targets that can
be used to tailor treatments for individual patients.
IPC and TD2 will collaborate on a number of primary tumor and
metastasis in selected cancers, as well as initiate an exchange
program for medical oncologists between the two institutions.
"Aligning with IPC represents a significant opportunity for TD2
and TGen to further expand our research affiliations into Europe,"
said Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, TGen's Physician-In-Chief. "In addition
to our ongoing collaborations with Luxembourg, this new alliance
with IPC will further our goals across both Europe and the United
States of providing better treatments in a more timely fashion to
our many patients who suffer from a variety of cancer types."
Professor Patrice Viens, a medical oncologist and General Director
of IPC, said the alliance with TD2 will enable IPC to bridge new
international relationships: "This alliance with TD2 translates to
our continuing efforts to expand our collaborations in basic
research and medical activities beyond Europe."
IPC is one of the largest university-affiliated comprehensive
cancer centers in France, involved in the management of nearly
6,000 new cases of cancer each year. IPC established a Biological
Resource Center (BRC) in oncology that has 70,000 tumor and
biological fluid samples, mostly of breast, pancreatic and blood
cancers. ICP had more than 600 patients in clinical trials during
2008.
IPC is affiliated with the Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis Initiative
(OVCAD), which is dedicated to ovarian cancer research, and with
the European Consortium for Anticancer Antibody Development
(EUCAAD), a European consortium dedicated to anti-angiogenic
treatments. It also is involved in collaborations with biotech and
pharmaceutical companies.
IPC will join TGen's Pancreatic Cancer Research Team (PCRT), which
includes other U.S. and international researchers.
"Our meetings at TGen have confirmed our decision to team up with
this premier organization on the cutting edge of research and
pharmacogenomics in oncology," Professor Viens said. "In addition
we are thrilled to work again with Dr. Von Hoff." Professor Viens
and Dr. Von Hoff once worked together at the University of Texas
Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas.
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About Institut Paoli-Calmettes
Institut Paoli-Calmettes (IPC) is a comprehensive cancer center in
Marseille, France. IPC is part of a network of 20 cancer treatment
centers in France. Its priorities are the treatment of cancer
patients, education and prevention, as well as basic, translational
and clinical research. IPC works to coordinate research among
laboratories, biotechnology companies and hospitals. It prides
itself on a humanistic mission, keeping the patient at the heart of
decisions about treatments, and using the latest innovations and
technology. Its more than 1,200-member staff, including more than
160 scientists, annually treats more than 20,000 patients. IPC's
research department is affiliated with the Institut National de la
Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM, France's National
Institution of Health and Medical Research) and Université de la
Méditerranée. For more information, please visit:
www.institutpaolicalmettes.fr.
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About TGen Drug Development (TD2)
TD2, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Translational Genomics
Research Institute (TGen), is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
TD2 provides innovative services for oncology-focused
biopharmaceutical companies using a dedicated team of professionals
with broad experience and understanding in drug development. TD2 is
uniquely positioned to support the need for improved and
accelerated development of new chemical entities (NCE's) for
life-threatening diseases. TD2 uses a unique combination of
experience gained through its contract research organization
business, and an integrated suite of proprietary and
non-proprietary tools, preclinical study execution, regulatory
affairs assistance, clinical trial design and management, and drug
development experts to successfully move therapeutics towards
regulatory approval. TD2 is dedicated to reducing the risks and
uncertainty inherent in the drug development process. For more
information, please visit: www.td2.org.
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About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated
with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information, please visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]