Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) and Crown Bioscience have announced the formation of a strategic global collaboration designed to accelerate the development of novel radiopharmaceuticals through an integrated translational biology platform. The partnership addresses the growing demand for these targeted cancer therapies, which represent a rapidly advancing approach to medical research and treatment with potential for game-changing patient breakthroughs.
Targeting Cancer with Precision Medicine
Radiopharmaceuticals are a growing class of medicines containing radioactive forms of chemical elements (radioisotopes) that effectively diagnose and treat cancers. When used in oncology, these therapies deliver therapeutic radiation directly to tumors, making them more targeted, more effective, and resulting in fewer side effects compared to conventional treatments. Additionally, radiopharmaceuticals serve as radioactive tracers in medical imaging, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and providing detailed insights to improve patient care.
Complementary Expertise and Technology Platforms
The strategic collaboration leverages the complementary strengths of both organizations to create value for global life sciences companies. MDC contributes expertise and cutting-edge technology in cell biology, high-resolution microscopy, radiochemistry, preclinical imaging, mass spectrometry, and multi-omic tissue analysis, enabling comprehensive analysis of radiopharmaceutical assets.
Crown Bioscience brings its industry-leading expertise in translational preclinical models and preclinical oncology capabilities to the partnership. The collaboration supports companies across the entire radiopharmaceutical pipeline, whether they are advancing radiotherapeutics, exploring new isotopes, or optimizing targeting agents.
Accelerating Drug Development Through Integration
The partnership enables rapid and reliable testing of how radiopharmaceuticals work, how the body responds to them, and their effectiveness—all critical factors in identifying viable drug candidates early and reducing clinical development risk. By applying their combined expertise, MDC and Crown Bioscience will deliver preclinical comparator studies with approved standards of care, providing increased regulatory confidence and supporting drug developers in preparing successful Investigational New Drug submissions.
Dr. Francesca Sadler, Chief Commercial Officer at Medicines Discovery Catapult, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: "MDC operates an advanced preclinical drug discovery facility, including world-class radiochemistry capabilities and a translational suite of imaging technologies, to support the growing demand for novel radiopharmaceuticals. Our partnership with Crown Bioscience means MDC can expand its current end-to-end translational biology offering even further."
Industry Impact and Future Outlook
John Gu, Chief Executive Officer at Crown Bioscience, highlighted the transformative potential of the partnership: "Advanced radiopharmaceuticals are poised to redefine how we treat cancer, but their successful development requires translational platforms that are both scientifically rigorous and clinically relevant. By combining MDC's radiochemistry and imaging capabilities with Crown Bioscience's preclinical oncology expertise, we are creating a truly integrated solution for innovators in this field."
The collaboration provides a fully integrated preclinical workflow for companies developing radiotherapeutics. By delivering more efficient studies, generating high-quality translational data, and supporting precision medicine strategies, the partnership aims to accelerate radiopharmaceutical drug development and improve patient outcomes across the global healthcare landscape.
