Crown Bioscience and NEXT Oncology Expand Strategic Partnership
In a significant development that reinforces their shared vision for transforming cancer research and drug development, Crown Bioscience, a global contract research organization (CRO) under the umbrella of JSR Life Sciences and Japan-based JSR Corporation, has announced the extension of its strategic partnership with NEXT Oncology, one of the world’s foremost networks specializing in Phase I oncology clinical trials. This renewed collaboration underscores both companies’ unwavering commitment to accelerating the pace of innovation in oncology by leveraging their combined strengths in clinical trial execution and translational research.
The partnership renewal builds upon a foundation of successful collaboration that has enabled both organizations to create a streamlined, end-to-end ecosystem for the development and application of patient-derived preclinical models in oncology. With this extension, Crown Bioscience will retain exclusive rights to develop and provide research services using patient samples sourced through NEXT Oncology’s expansive, global Phase I trial network. These biological samples, including patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and organoids, are critical to creating clinically relevant cancer models that help drug developers evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel therapeutics before they reach clinical settings.
A Shared Vision for Translational Oncology Innovation
As the complexity of cancer treatment continues to evolve, the pharmaceutical industry has turned increasingly to advanced preclinical models that mimic the biology of human tumors with greater fidelity. Traditional cancer models—such as immortalized cell lines—often fail to reflect the heterogeneity and microenvironmental factors seen in real patient tumors. In contrast, PDX and organoid models offer a much closer approximation to the in vivo behavior of human tumors, enabling researchers to obtain more predictive data regarding therapeutic responses and resistance mechanisms.
This is where the Crown Bioscience and NEXT Oncology alliance delivers significant strategic value. By combining Crown Bioscience’s scientific leadership in tumor modeling and translational platforms with NEXT Oncology’s robust infrastructure for patient recruitment and early-phase clinical trials, the partnership creates a powerful synergy that bridges the gap between bench and bedside.
According to John Gu, CEO of Crown Bioscience, the extended partnership will enable both organizations to not only maintain but expand their capabilities at the cutting edge of oncology R&D.
“We are thrilled to continue our exclusive partnership with NEXT Oncology,” Gu said in a statement. “NEXT Oncology is globally recognized for its pioneering work in Phase I clinical oncology trials. Extending this partnership allows us to broaden our portfolio and strengthen our position as a leader in translational oncology platforms and integrated solutions. Our combined expertise and global reach will ensure rapid and scalable access to groundbreaking cancer models for our biopharma partners.”
Gu’s remarks point to a broader industry trend in which pharmaceutical and biotech companies are seeking more clinically relevant platforms to improve the success rate of oncology drugs. Despite decades of investment, the attrition rate in cancer drug development remains high, often due to preclinical models failing to predict clinical outcomes. Crown Bioscience’s portfolio of over 600 PDX models and its growing repository of organoid models represent a new generation of tools designed to address these challenges with greater precision.
Expanding a Proven Global Network for Patient-Centric Discovery
NEXT Oncology brings to the partnership a globally integrated network of clinical sites that specialize in the rapid enrollment and treatment of cancer patients in first-in-human and dose-escalation trials. Founded by Dr. Anthony Tolcher, a world-renowned expert in early-phase oncology trials, NEXT Oncology has grown into one of the most trusted partners for biopharmaceutical companies seeking to bring promising oncology compounds into human studies.
Through this extended agreement, Crown Bioscience will continue to access a steady pipeline of fresh tumor samples derived from patients enrolled in NEXT Oncology’s clinical trials. These samples are critical to maintaining the relevance and diversity of Crown’s PDX and organoid platforms, allowing them to reflect the evolving landscape of tumor heterogeneity, genetic mutations, and resistance mechanisms seen in real-world clinical practice.
Dr. Tolcher emphasized the importance of maintaining this pipeline to fuel innovation:
“NEXT Oncology is excited to continue our strong partnership with Crown Bioscience,” said Tolcher. “Together, we will continue to develop new and highly relevant patient models that Crown’s biopharma partners can utilize to advance their translational oncology programs. Our combined efforts continue to support both companies’ missions to help cancer patients receive the most advanced medicines possible.”
Dr. Tolcher’s vision aligns closely with the broader goals of personalized oncology, where treatment decisions are increasingly guided by patient-specific tumor biology. By enabling the rapid generation of models from actual patient tumors, the partnership equips researchers with the ability to assess how different therapeutic agents perform across a spectrum of tumor types and genetic profiles—enhancing the probability of clinical success.
Fueling Precision Medicine Through Organoid and PDX Technologies
The importance of organoids and PDX models in the future of precision oncology cannot be overstated. Organoids—three-dimensional tumor cultures grown from patient cells—have gained prominence for their ability to preserve the cellular architecture and microenvironmental cues of the original tumor. They are increasingly used to evaluate drug response, identify resistance pathways, and guide biomarker discovery.
Similarly, PDX models involve implanting human tumor tissue into immunocompromised mice, allowing researchers to observe tumor growth and drug responses in a whole-animal context. These models are indispensable for studying drug mechanisms, identifying therapeutic combinations, and conducting co-clinical trials.
Crown Bioscience’s platforms provide an unmatched breadth of both model types, supported by proprietary quality control systems, extensive molecular characterization, and integrated bioinformatics. With the continued influx of patient-derived samples from NEXT Oncology’s global trial sites, Crown can expand its library of models across a diverse range of tumor types, including hard-to-treat cancers such as pancreatic, ovarian, triple-negative breast cancer, and rare tumor types.
A Broader Impact on Biopharma Innovation and Patient Outcomes
The renewed partnership comes at a time when the pharmaceutical industry is under pressure to accelerate drug development timelines while improving success rates, particularly in oncology, where time is of the essence for many patients. The collaboration between Crown Bioscience and NEXT Oncology offers biopharmaceutical companies an integrated solution that spans preclinical model development, biomarker analysis, and early clinical testing.
This end-to-end continuum not only de-risks the drug development process but also allows companies to pursue data-driven development strategies, reducing reliance on traditional trial-and-error approaches. It also supports regulatory interactions by providing robust preclinical data that can substantiate Investigational New Drug (IND) applications and guide trial design.
Moreover, for cancer patients, the ultimate beneficiaries of this partnership, the implications are profound. With more predictive models and streamlined clinical testing pathways, promising new therapies can reach the market faster—and with a higher likelihood of success. This is especially critical for patients with advanced or refractory cancers who often face limited treatment options and shrinking timelines.
By extending their exclusive partnership, Crown Bioscience and NEXT Oncology are deepening their commitment to transforming oncology research through innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence. The synergy between Crown Bioscience s robust translational platforms and NEXT Oncology’s clinical trial network creates a formidable alliance aimed at bridging the gap between lab research and real-world patient impact. As both organizations continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in cancer therapeutics, this partnership stands as a powerful example of how cross-sector collaboration can accelerate the delivery of life-saving medicines to patients worldwide.
