Our Business Development Managers proactively work with research scientists, as they are undertaking their research, to identify possible new discoveries with strong clinical and commercial potential.

A rigorous and well-defined internal evaluation process is designed to determine if an invention can be protected and to identify the most suitable routes to get new cancer therapies and diagnostics to market.

It is important for scientists to protect the materials and information they share with other scientists. We can advise on and prepare Material Transfer Agreements, Confidentiality Disclosure Agreements, and Consultancy Agreements. Non-published data, ideas, inventions and other confidential information can constitute valuable intellectual property and should also be protected prior to publication.

Learn more about protecting your materials.

The filing of a patent application is the most common way to protect an invention. We have extensive experience in filing, managing and commercialising patent applications.

We appreciate that finding the resources to fund the up-front costs of filing and prosecuting patent applications can pose problems for scientists and research institutions. We therefore cover these costs, only recouping our outlay if we are successful in securing a commercial partner committed to funding further development of the project. We also:

• Liaise with scientists and patent law firms to ensure that high quality applications are filed.
• Evaluate, together with the inventors, the patentability and commercial potential of the invention.
• Assist in resolving questions regarding ownership and inventorship of IP.

Projects are comprehensively reviewed to expand and deepen the understanding around the initial invention and to enable the strongest clinical and market position to be established.

Our Business Development Managers will usually propose a course of project development that may involve further experiments in the scientist's laboratory, or more industrial-orientated development work to add value to the invention. The Business Development Manager will recommend whether this should be undertaken within the host institution, in collaboration with a commercial partner or within CRUK's Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories.

We have strong links with a wide range of international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and our Business Development team meets with more than 100 oncology companies annually to explore potential opportunities and synergies.

Through an assessment of the development needs of a project, awareness of what is happening in the oncology industry and knowledge of the particular strategic focus of different companies, our Business Development Managers can identify which commercial partners have the greatest likelihood of achieving clinical success and ultimately patient benefit from a scientist’s invention.

Our Business Development Managers and our in-house legal team prepare high-quality, robust agreements that clearly define the expectations, intentions and obligations of all parties. A deal team is established who is experienced in structuring, negotiating and drafting a wide variety of agreements on behalf of our academic partners. This team proactively works to complete the deal.

Most importantly, to ensure clinical success and patient benefit is achieved, we actively monitor and manage the project after agreement signature. This activity is vital to ensure that:

• the licensee develops the project promptly and effectively;
• each party meets its obligations;
• appropriate revenue distribution is achieved;
• advantage is taken of new information and developments, as they arise.