20 million for the development of new cancer therapies

21.02.2024 17:05

From the research lab to the patient's bedside – before a cancer patient can be treated with a new drug, it undergoes a series of preclinical tests to ensure that it is both effective and safe. These studies are both time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, research into new drugs for rare and difficult-to-treat cancers is often not profitable for the pharmaceutical industry.

The German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe) now intends to address this gap. At the 36th German Cancer Congress in 2024, it will present its new funding and research focus, "Preclinical Drug Development," through which it will support three comprehensive projects for the development of novel cancer therapeutics with a total of 20 million euros over five years.

University-based basic research is working intensively to decipher the molecular mechanisms that distinguish cancer cells from healthy cells. This knowledge is the foundation for developing new, targeted cancer drugs and testing them in clinical trials. This is where the German Cancer Aid's new funding priority comes in, particularly with regard to rare tumor diseases. Professor Dr. Stefan Knapp from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main – one of the project leaders – explains: „Developing and testing new drugs is simply expensive and time-consuming. Industry is hesitant to research innovative treatment options for rare tumor diseases. University research is more independent in this respect. However, it often lacks the structures to carry out the development of new drugs from the initial idea to clinical trials.“ The German Cancer Aid's new funding priority therefore offers university scientists a unique opportunity to pave the way for cancer drugs whose development is not lucrative enough for pharmaceutical companies.

Focus: Immunotherapies and Small Molecules

The new funding program focuses on the development of active ingredients that can be used in immunotherapies, as well as so-called small molecule drugs. Due to their extremely small size, these can penetrate directly into diseased cells and exert their effects there. While immunotherapies have only been approved for cancer treatment for a few years, small molecule drugs themselves are not new to the pharmaceutical industry. However, the steadily growing understanding of molecular regulatory processes in tumor cells provides new, promising targets for medications. With this knowledge, the research teams in the funded projects are developing active ingredients for tumors that do not respond to currently available therapies due to resistance. Furthermore, the targeted action of the newly developed drugs is intended to reduce the side effects of the therapy.

A network for innovative drug development

With its new funding priority, the German Cancer Aid is also creating a network from which other oncology research groups in Germany that need support in developing new drugs against cancer will also benefit. Gerd Nettekoven, Chairman of the Board of the German Cancer Aid, says: „We must also have good treatment options for patients with rare tumor diseases, in whose development the industry is not necessarily interested. With our new research focus, we are creating a pipeline for the development of innovative drugs – independent of economic interests.“

As part of its new funding priority, the German Cancer Aid is supporting the three collaborative projects „CAR Factory“, „THUNDER“ and „TACTIC“.“

1. Tumor cells originate from healthy cells and develop mechanisms to evade the immune response. In chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell therapy, immune cells are genetically modified to recognize tumor-specific surface markers and destroy the diseased cell. However, this therapy is currently only approved for certain blood and lymphatic system disorders. This is where the project "CAR FACTORY: A High-Performance Platform for the Development of Genetically Optimized CAR-T and NK Cell Therapies Against Cancer" comes in. The researchers aim to develop CAR cells that can be used against tumors that are currently difficult to treat, such as triple-negative breast cancer. Spokespersons for the research consortium: Professor Dr. Michael Hudecek (University Hospital Würzburg), Professor Dr. Evelyn Ulrich (University Hospital Frankfurt am Main)
2. Almost all currently approved immunotherapies are based on the use of antibodies. Antibodies circulate in the bloodstream and recognize pathogens according to the lock-and-key principle. They then mark these pathogens for the immune system, which subsequently destroys them. Immunotherapy uses so-called monoclonal antibodies, which are intended to mark tumor cells and thus contribute to their destruction. However, due to their size, antibodies are not equally suitable for treating all types of tumors. Researchers in the "National Center for Nanobody Tumor Theranostics (THUNDER)" project are therefore developing nanobodies as active ingredients in cancer therapy. Nanobodies consist of only a subunit of the antibody and are therefore only about one-tenth the size. This allows them to migrate more easily through tissue and reach even poorly perfused tumors. Spokespersons for the research consortium: Professor Dr. Katja Weisel (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf), Professor Dr. Michael Hölzel (University Hospital Bonn)
3. In tumor cells, many mechanisms of normal cell function are disrupted. Identifying these dysregulated processes offers a potential target for tumor therapies. However, in many cases, suitable drugs are still lacking. Within the collaborative project "Oncogene Transcription as a Target for Novel Cancer Therapies (TACTIC)," researchers are therefore developing drugs that regulate cellular mechanisms. The aim is to identify and influence genetic switches associated with cancer development. This approach should enable more precise interventions against cancer. Spokesperson for the research consortium: Professor Dr. Stefan Knapp (Goethe University Frankfurt am Main).

The German Cancer Congress (DKK) is the largest oncology conference in the German-speaking world and will take place from February 21 to 24, 2024, at the CityCube Berlin under the motto "Shaping Progress Together." The funding priority will be presented on February 21, 2024, from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in the session "Network of the German Cancer Aid for Preclinical Drug Development." A more detailed description of the projects and further information about the DKK can be found at the following links: https://www.krebshilfe.de/forschen/projekte/foerderschwerpunkte/praeklinische-wirkstoffentwicklung/ and https://www.deutscher-krebskongress.de/pm-praeklinische-wirkstoffentwicklung.html.