Oslo Cancer Cluster announced December 9th that the Norwegian Government is to strengthen early phase clinical trials in cancer at the Norwegian Radium Hospital, as well as other clinical research units in Norway. This move is part of a deliberate strategy to enhance innovation in biotechnology.
Put forward in Norway's first White Paper on Innovation Policy launched on December 5th, the move also reflects the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s announced goal of strengthening clinical research.
Important move for biotechnology companies
“Increased capacity for clinical trials will help the biotechnology industry continue to run their clinical trial programmes despite the worsening economic climate. I am very pleased with this support, which I know also be welcomed by our member companies,” says Bjarte Reve, the CEO of Oslo Cancer Cluster.
Oslo Cancer Cluster has almost 50 members. Combined they have more than 50 products in their clinical pipeline, making it one of the strongest in oncology outside the pharmaceutical industry on a world scale.
“Increased capacity for testing oncology products in Norway will also ensure that our member companies will be able to accelerate the development of new cancer therapies and diagnostics. This will in turn benefit cancer patients, another of our main aims,” says Reve.
Oslo Cancer Cluster already sponsors a senior position at the Clinical Cancer Research Unit at the Norwegian Radium Hospital.
Strong tradition in cancer research and trials
The world-renowned Norwegian Radium Hospital was recently selected to be one of the best places for preclinical and clinical phase I/II cancer trials in Europe by AstraZeneca. Already the hospital has more than 20 years of experience in clinical trials in all phases.
A total 16 clinical trials, mostly phase I and Phase II, are currently ongoing at the Clinical Research Unit.
With the strong support from Oslo Cancer Cluster, and now the Norwegian Governmental financial support, Professor Steinar Aamdal, Chair of the Department of Clinical Cancer Research, expects to attract more collaborators to the Clinical Research Unit. The Unit has a staff of oncologists and study nurses dedicated to Phase I /II trials.
Aamdal and his team also have extensive international collaboration, among others they collaborate with MD Anderson and Fox Chase.
Source: Oslo Cancer Cluster
For more information visit the websites of Oslo Cancer Cluster and the Clinical Cancer Research Unit at the Norwegian Radium Hospital.