Incyte has announced a multi-year research collaboration with the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Through this collaboration, Incyte and Abramson have agreed to bring together the knowledge and expertise of their leading drug discovery and development scientists to conduct collaborative research aimed at advancing the understanding of cancer biology and fostering innovative science in immunotherapy.

Under the collaboration, Penn investigators will leverage their expertise in preclinical biology and translational science to investigate the novel therapeutics being discovered at Incyte and better understand their mechanisms of action—further developing the clinical rationales for combination therapy and patient selection. Additionally, in a combined effort to better define the relationships between human tumor characteristics and immune cell infiltration and function, Incyte and Penn will work together to develop a bioinformatics program in clinical immunotherapy aimed at fostering the advancement of novel therapeutics.

During the period of the collaboration, Incyte will provide financial support for these research programs and may also conduct additional grant-funded research with Penn investigators in other innovative areas of cancer immunology.

“Incyte and Abramson are mutually committed to the advancement of science and improving the lives of patients with cancer. This alliance will allow us to mobilize two groups of leading scientists toward the collective goal of advancing the field of immunotherapy,” said Reid Huber, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Incyte. “We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the world-class researchers at Abramson and investigate new avenues for the treatment of patients with cancer.”