Abbott, Genentech, and WEHI in cancer research collaboration

MELBOURNE, Australia—The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) announced that Abbott, Genentech, and WEHI have joined in a research collaboration to discover new anti-cancer drugs.

Under the terms of the collaboration, the three parties will engage in a drug discovery research program, with Genentech and Abbott being responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of potential new drugs. The discovery stage of the collaboration involves an integrated approach engaging Genentech's research site in South San Francisco, Abbott facilities in the Chicago area and WEHI's operation here. Financial terms of the collaboration will not be disclosed.

"This exciting three party research collaboration among world leaders in this field may increase the chance of translating basic scientific research in apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death, as carried out by our collaborators over recent years, into novel targeted cancer therapeutics," says Dr. Julian Clark, head of business development at WEHI.