Read on Twitter
It’s taken years of work, but earlier this month researchers funded by us, led by Professor Louis Chesler at @ICR_London, announced that a new drug for neuroblastoma – an aggressive childhood cancer – is ready for clinical trials. 1/8 #CRUKYoungPeople https://bit.ly/2HlN9b2
The drug targets a weak spot in neuroblastoma cells – a gene called MYCN or ‘N-Myc’ – first identified back in 2012 by international researchers, including Professor Chesler. 2/8 https://bit.ly/2FPL5r7
“Our study opens up the potential to treat children with aggressive cancers, such as neuroblastoma, with precisely targeted cancer medicines that may be smarter and kinder.” – Professor Chesler 3/8
It's been a team effort to get here. For example, other researchers funded by us have helped better understand this weak spot, building the evidence that targeting it could help children with this cancer. 4/8 https://bit.ly/3klDQGw
The experimental drug – known as fadraciclib – was discovered at our Cancer Therapeutics Unit at @ICR_London, in collaboration with @CyclacelPharma. 5/8 https://bit.ly/3167yI4
Fadraciclib will now be tested as part of the ground-breaking international ESMART trial that’s currently being rolled out across the UK, led by @royalmarsdenNHS and coordinated by the @CRCTU 6/8 https://bit.ly/2IVvg3q
There are, of course, no guarantees – that’s why we need clinical trials to test new drugs. But we’re hopeful that the drugs being trialled in ESMART will help improve survival and long-term outcomes for children and young people with cancer. 
7/8
7/8
We’re incredibly proud of the role our researchers have played in bringing new hope to children with neuroblastoma and their families. We’re committed to making more of this research happen. 8/8 #CRUKYoungPeople
