Status: Partnerships and initiatives

C-Further Consortium: advancing innovative cancer therapies for children and young people 

A cross-industry collaboration that is dedicated to transforming innovative scientific research into effective treatments for children and young people with cancer.

Child ringing bell following cancer treatment

Overview

C-Further is a collaborative effort between LifeArc and Cancer Research Horizons, with an initial commitment of £28 million to advance and support the development of new anti-cancer therapeutics.

Purpose of the project

Paediatric cancers are fundamentally different from adult cancers, primarily due to their developmental origins. Unlike adult cancers, which often arise from mutations acquired over a lifetime, paediatric cancers typically result from mutations in germline cells. As a result, existing adult cancer therapies frequently aren’t effective in treating paediatric conditions, necessitating the development of specialised treatments. 

The current landscape of paediatric cancer treatment is limited, primarily relying on chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These can lead to severe side effects affecting the reproductive, renal, pulmonary, and ocular systems, as well as significant social and psychological burdens on young patients and their families.  

C-Further aims to comprehensively address these challenges by navigating the full drug development pipeline, tackling the economic, scientific, and operational obstacles that hinder progress. 

Headshot of David Jenkinson

For companies which are set up to make a return on investment, then there’s a challenge between doing what everyone knows is the right thing to do – to bring drugs for childhood cancer forward – versus the requirement to make that financial return.  

David Jenkinson Head of Childhood Cancer, LifeArc

Challenges addressed by C-Further

Economic challenges 

The financial burden of bringing new therapies to market often disincentivises investment in paediatric cancer treatments. C-Further seeks to alleviate these constraints by providing funding for researchers and encouraging collaboration with like-minded charities, research funders, and foundations.

Scientific challenges 

There is a significant lack of approved therapies for paediatric cancers; between 2007 and 2022, only 2 paediatric cancer drugs received FDA approval. C-Further provides scientific expertise and access to advanced drug discovery facilities to mitigate research risks. 

Operational challenges  

Low patient populations can complicate clinical trials. C-Further emphasises a holistic, collaborative approach to expedite the delivery of new therapies to patients.

Regulatory hurdles   

Navigating the regulatory landscape for paediatric therapies can be complex and time-consuming. C-Further supports researchers working in the space to ensure their science has the best possible chance to get to market. 

C-Further supports the entire pipeline of drug development, from initial scientific discovery to market introduction and sustainability. 

Impact of C-Further

  • Enhanced scientific knowledge: uniting leading experts in research, translational science, and drug discovery to foster innovation. 
  • Access to extensive resources: providing researchers with world-class facilities to accelerate and mitigate risks in the development process. 
  • Transformative financial models: raising and managing the necessary funds to advance research dedicated to new treatments for CYP. 
  • Dynamic collaborative network: creating synergies among experts and organisations to drive innovation in paediatric oncology. 

Join us in making a difference

Are you a paediatric cancer researcher? We invite you to collaborate with us

Interested in partnering with us? C-Further is actively seeking collaborators who share our vision to partner with us

Learn how we can support your research – free webinar 

For more information, visit the C-Further website and explore how you can contribute to this vital initiative. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter future for children and young people battling cancer.