The UK’s leading cancer charity has awarded a major drug development and manufacturing project to chemistry experts Onyx Scientific.

Cancer Research UK has selected the UK-based Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturer to develop the chemistry and perform the GMP synthesis of the API for use in a phase I clinical trial.

The team at Cancer Research UK initially approached its preferred suppliers with its requirements and a proposed development route. After analysing the charity’s needs in more detail, the technical team at Onyx Scientific has improved the synthetic methodology as well as suggesting an alternative route, which long term will potentially help make the project more efficient and cost effective.

Dr Nigel Westwood, drug supply manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Having had a very positive experience of using Onyx Scientific’s process development and GMP manufacturing services in the past, they seemed like a strong candidate for this important project.”

“Despite the fact that Cancer Research UK had to change suppliers at such a critical stage, Onyx Scientific still expect to bring the project in on time and on budget. Given their expertise in chemistry and ability to deliver, we believe they are perfect fit for the project,” added Dr Westwood.

Onyx Scientific provides outsourced facilities and expertise to help pharmaceutical and biotech companies accelerate drug candidates from discovery, through development, into phase I/II GMP API manufacturing. The Cancer Research UK project is one of the biggest projects in the firm’s history and is expected to take around seven months to complete.

Denise Bowser, commercial director at Onyx Scientific, said: “We are delighted to be working again with the team at Cancer Research UK on this major project as it clearly indicates confidence in our technical expertise, customer service and ability to deliver on time.”

“The input we have had to date has been positive and has no doubt demonstrated our commitment to go the extra mile for clients by meeting their requirements as efficiently as possible” he added.

Onyx Scientific has worked on contract chemistry, development and production projects for over 150 organisations across the world. It now operates as a preferred partner of around half of the world’s top 10 big pharma firms and has achieved a 96% customer loyalty rate based on repeat projects.