Australian researchers collaborate with Janssen to accelerate cancer treatment

Pharma News: Australian researchers will fast-track research into potential new lung cancer drug treatments through a strategic collaboration with Janssen, facilitated by the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Partnering Office.

The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) research team, led by Professor Derek Richard, have been given access to the Janssen Jump-stARTer Compound Library, a unique and highly curated collection of 80,000 chemical compounds, which may allow the researchers to hasten identifying potential promising drug candidates and advancing their development.

Lung cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the most common cause of cancer death in Australia.

Vice-President of Business Development Professor Mark Harvey welcomed the announcement and said the QUT research team would be using high-tech robotic devices to screen potential drug candidates.

“The Jump-stARTer Compound Library is a world class molecule library, and this strategic collaboration will potentially reduce the time needed to identify promising new drug candidates, it epitomises the real-world research approach at QUT,” Professor Harvey said.

Kathy Connell, Senior Director, Early Innovation Partnering, Australia & New Zealand Johnson & Johnson Innovation, told Health Industry Hub “This collaboration with the QUT research team is especially meaningful as it aims to fast-track research into potentially new lung cancer drug treatments through our Jump-stARTer Compound Library. Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer death in Australia and access to this library will allow researchers an opportunity to use high-tech robotic devices to screen potential promising drug candidates. I am incredibly excited by the potential of this strategic partnership and to help advance scientific innovation that could positively impact the lives of patients around the world.”

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Professor Harvey added “Collaborations like this, along with the use of cutting-edge robotic screening technologies, will help drive significant changes in medicine in the next few decades and we look forward to the continued opportunities our researchers will have in working on real-world projects with collaborators.”

Johnson & Johnson Innovation has facilitated a collaboration between Australian’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and Janssen to ignite the development of antimalarial drug candidates using the Jump-stARTer Compound Library.

Janssen has also teamed up with Monash University to discover and develop biologic next-generation therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis. Janssen and Monash have formed a multiyear collaboration and have pre-negotiated an option-to-license agreement.