Indivumed and URMC Join Forces to Advance Cancer Therapeutics

Indivumed, a leader in precision oncology, has announced a strategic partnership with the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) to enhance the discovery of novel cancer therapeutics. This collaboration aims to leverage Indivumed’s expertise in the collection of standardized tissue and clinical data, focusing on patient-centric cancer research and development.

The partnership will primarily target advanced stages of solid tumors, particularly colorectal, pancreatic, lung, and breast cancers, which have high medical needs. By utilizing Indivumed’s innovative platform, which includes meticulously curated surgical tissue samples and clinical data, both institutions aim to accelerate the development of effective therapies for patients.

Strengthening Cancer Research Through Collaboration

A significant aspect of this collaboration is the collection and processing of high-quality biosamples at URMC, which adheres to Indivumed’s stringent standard operating procedures. A key element is minimizing ischemia time to under ten minutes, which is crucial for maintaining sample integrity. The joint research efforts will prioritize creating well-characterized, patient-derived tumor models (PDTMs) from these samples. These models, including classical cell cultures, spheroids, and organoids, will facilitate the identification and validation of new cancer targets.

Hartmut Land, PhD, Deputy Director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Our familiarity with Indivumed’s tissue and multi-omics data approach will provide an excellent foundation. The new project will create greater opportunities to identify new therapeutics and biomarkers, which are essential for advancing cancer care.”

The partnership is expected to yield meaningful insights that will inform therapeutic decision-making for participating clinicians. This initiative builds on previous successful collaborations, including a recent publication that explored alternative classifications of distinct types of colon cancer.

A Commitment to Patient-Centric Innovation

According to Hartmut Juhl, CEO and founder of Indivumed, this collaboration significantly enhances their capacity to identify novel cancer therapeutics. “We will develop primary tumor models for testing novel compounds against targets identified by our unique AI-powered data analytical capabilities. Our goal is to bring novel therapeutics to patients as quickly and accurately as possible,” Juhl stated.

With this agreement, URMC joins the Indivumed Global Clinical Network, which encompasses numerous prestigious hospitals and oncology institutes across North America, Europe, and Asia. The collaboration reinforces Indivumed’s commitment to transforming oncology by utilizing their unique resources and expertise.

About the partners, the Wilmot Cancer Institute, part of the University of Rochester, is designated as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) center and serves a population of over three million across 27 counties in New York. The institute is recognized for its extensive cancer care and research capabilities, supported by a team of more than 190 oncology physicians and 500 oncology nurses.

Indivumed, with over twenty years of experience in precision oncology, aims to redefine cancer treatment by focusing on the identification, validation, and preclinical development of innovative therapeutics. Their dedication to a standardized collection process ensures high-quality tissue samples that are essential for effective cancer research.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the fight against cancer, promising new avenues for therapeutic discovery that are firmly rooted in patient needs and scientific rigor.