NEWSROOM

A meeting between delegates of high profile from Merck & Co., and South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics (START) has been successful in the high-lighting of the importance of collaboration between academic center and industry to develop a strategic plan in the field of innovative anti-cancer drug discovery and testing for the benefit of the cancer patients. 

Dr. Tolcher, Director of START, had elaborated the collaborative efforts in expanding their Texas operation to China, bringing in investment in personnel training, information technology, and electronic medical records for its new site based in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) to conduct phase Ib and II clinical trials. Both START and the FUSCC leadership looked forward to a fruitful collaboration for making START Shanghai/Fudan the leading site for clinical trials in China, winning the SFDA regulatory recognition, and accelerate drug development worldwide. A contract between START and FUSCC is presently under negotiation. 

Dr Barr, the vice president of Merck Oncology Franchise, had explained Merck Oncology stance in the fight against cancer. With wide variety agents in the pipeline, Merck is pioneering a clinical trial network (OncoNet) focusing on the development of Merck drug through collaboration with 15 prestigious cancer centers worldwide that are highly committed to early phase clinical trials. The inclusion of START Shanghai/ Fudan as part of the OncoNet to become one of the exclusive early phase clinical trial sites to conduct Merck’s clinical trials for new drug would benefit all parties. Merck agrees to offer >90% of phase I/ IIa trials to member sites, with long-term contracts, provide support by up-front investment and access to research funds. FUSCC will have more access to funding and personnel training opportunities in the clinical and research area while patients will be able to have more treatment options. 

Professor Li concluded the meeting by saying that it is an exciting time in cancer drug development where the Merck Program would provide necessary ammunitions for the START Shanghai/Fudan’s collaborative effort to fight the war against cancer.” 

The Merck delegates have been very impressed by the clinical volume, the development of FUSCC, and the establishment of Tissue bank at the Department of Pathology. The delegates went on a tour to the Research Laboratories, the Tissue Bank, and the Phase I ward before their departure.