We’re partnering internationally to create far-reaching impact for kids with cancer
We’re excited to share news of our recent partnership with LifeArc, a highly-regarded UK-based medical research charity. LifeArc will co-fund Dr. Gregory Friedman’s CureSearch Acceleration Initiative project aimed at revolutionizing the treatment of pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs), a devastating form of childhood brain cancer. The median survival rate for children with pHGGs is less than 30%. Some types, like DIPG, remain incurable. Current treatment options often result in significant toxicity and limited efficacy, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Children with brain tumors need safer, more effective treatments, and they need them now.
Dr. Friedman’s team is driving forward the development of novel therapies for pediatric high-grade gliomas
Dr. Friedman’s project involves combining a genetically modified herpes virus with a novel cancer vaccine called SNAPvax, which will prime the body’s immune system and sustain the effects of the engineered virus. This, in turn, will potentially offer a more effective and less toxic treatment option for children with pHGGs.
“We’re thrilled to expand our co-funding model internationally and are grateful for LifeArc’s support of Dr. Friedman’s groundbreaking work. Because promising research projects in children’s cancer often go unfunded, our goal is to fill that gap by ensuring the quick advancement of these promising projects into the clinic where they can help children today,” said CureSearch President & CEO, Kay Koehler. “LifeArc’s partnership demonstrates confidence in our unique funding model; our preclinical Acceleration Initiative projects have an extraordinary track record of moving into clinical trials, and we believe Dr. Friedman’s work will continue to deliver these impactful results.”
Our Acceleration Initiative Projects are advancing pediatric cancer drug development
CureSearch Acceleration Initiative projects are highly innovative, address a significant challenge in pediatric cancer drug development, and have an extremely strong probability of clinical application in an accelerated timeframe – ready to reach clinic, and the children counting on new treatments, within 3 years. In fact, 60% of preclinical research projects funded through our Acceleration Initiative advance to clinical trials, compared to a less than 8% average rate of translation of drugs into clinical cancer trials.
Projects are carefully vetted by CureSearch’s world-class Scientific and Industry Advisory Councils, comprised of experts at the top of their fields in science and industry. Validation of a research project by CureSearch’s councils speaks volumes in the global pediatric cancer arena.
LifeArc and CureSearch’s shared commitment to addressing unmet needs in pediatric cancer
Through this bi-continental partnership, we aim to accelerate the development of innovative therapies tailored to the unique needs of pediatric patients, bringing hope to families affected by this devastating disease.
Dr. David Jenkinson, Head of Childhood Cancer at LifeArc, says: “This project really stood out to us because this novel approach holds real promise in an area of high unmet medical need – aligning with our strategy… Our mission at LifeArc is to do better for children with cancer by helping to progress research that could lead to the development of new, less toxic, treatments, ultimately saving lives.”
Find out more about LifeArc’s work at www.lifearc.org.
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- Source: https://curesearch.org/announcing-a-15m-international-partnership-with-lifearc-to-co-fund-high-grade-glioma-research/