Bayer and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Extend Research Collaboration for the Development of New Cancer Therapies

3 November 2023

Bayer and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard recently announced the extension of their research partnership for another five years, following a decade of successful collaboration. This renewed agreement is aimed at advancing innovative cancer treatments, with a primary focus on identifying potential cancer targets and discovering novel therapeutic approaches in the field of oncology.

Bayer AG, expressed their shared commitment to finding new ways to combat cancer, a devastating disease affecting millions worldwide. The goal of this partnership is to bring innovation to cancer patients by establishing a strong and sustainable pipeline for oncology treatments. Notably, their previous collaboration has already led to the development of three clinical oncology candidates, and they anticipate continuing their work with the esteemed scientists at the Broad Institute to advance more innovative cancer targets into clinical development.

This partnership, which was initiated in 2013, brings together the Broad Institute's expertise in cancer research and chemical biology with Bayer's extensive experience in the discovery of small molecules and biologics for drug development in the pursuit of novel cancer treatments. Both parties are dedicated to identifying new investigational drugs for addressing emerging oncology targets and expanding the spectrum of available treatment options.

Through this alliance, the Broad Institute and Bayer have effectively harnessed their complementary strengths, combining Broad's expertise in cancer biology and cutting-edge drug discovery techniques with Bayer's proficiency in drug development, ultimately increasing their ability to deliver transformative medicines to cancer patients.

This ongoing collaboration has already yielded promising results, including Bayer's mutant EGFR/HER2 inhibitor, currently in Phase I clinical trials. This innovative small molecule inhibitor targets EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations and HER2 activating mutations. Bayer has showcased its early oncology portfolio at major cancer research conferences, underscoring its commitment to advancing cancer research and drug development.

For Bayer, academic collaborations are an integral part of their research and development strategy, particularly in therapeutic areas with significant unmet medical needs. In the field of oncology, Bayer's strategic approach is rooted in precision drug development, which accelerates the identification of promising targets and commercially viable programs. Their efforts are focused on expanding the range of druggable targets, creating effective and better-tolerated medications, and addressing the challenge of drug resistance.

Bayer's proximity to the Broad Institute in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA, further strengthens their partnership, allowing for close collaboration. Bayer Research & Innovation Center (BRIC) is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories, fostering the development of next-generation cancer therapies. Additionally, BRIC has established a dedicated research team specializing in chemical biology techniques, further enhancing Bayer's efforts in oncology drug development.

 

Source: businesswire.com