Peter Mac and Amgen, working together to improve cancer outcomes
11 November 2024
Peter Mac has played host to representatives from leading biotechnology company, Amgen, as part of the first formal Amgen Partners of Choice (APoC) visit.
The APoC network aims to advance collaboration across industry and academia to advance cancer treatments for patients.
Peter Mac’s Associate Director of Clinical Research, Professor Jayesh Desai, said a long and productive relationship between Peter Mac and Amgen has resulted in several new trials including a number of first in human trials across various cancer types.
“This visit allowed us to also showcase our expertise in leading novel clinical trials, including phase I trials; and extending this into the translational and laboratory research space, an emerging area of collaborative interest,” he said.
“It was wonderful to welcome Amgen leaders in early drug development and precision medicine.
“The Associate Director of Research Translation, Professor Mark Dawson, highlighted why Peter Mac is uniquely positioned to deliver translational ‘bench to bedside’ research.”
Professor Desai and Professor Dawson outlined that the multidisciplinary approach taken at Peter Mac involves world leading cancer expertise and access to a range of novel therapeutics, pre-clinical models, clinical biospecimens and cutting-edge technologies, placing Peter Mac in an enviable position.
“Because our research at Peter Mac spans everything from laboratory, translational and clinical research we are uniquely positioned to offer the full spectrum of research required for drug development and testing,” said Professor Desai.
Peter Mac and Amgen have been working together to advance cancer research and treatments through the APoC program for the last year.
As leaders in clinical trials that test promising new cancer treatments for the first time in humans, the partnership has brought at least ten new trials to Peter Mac cancer patients.
Visiting Peter Mac from Amgen was Dr Anna Farago, MD, PhD, and Vice President Early Development who leads the development for several assets in the early pipeline.
Dr Farago said that partnering with Peter Mac gives Amgen the chance to bring our minds together to think creatively about how we can identify targets for areas where there has been minimal innovation.
“Our face-to-face meeting was energising as we dug deeper into our shared immunogenomics and other translational abilities as well as what this work can mean for patients,” she said.
“It takes all of us to pursue unique ways to fight cancer, and Amgen looks forward to the continued collaboration with Peter Mac.”