Indian startup Bugworks Research, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, and Cytecare Cancer Hospitals have announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind collaboration. Bugworks develops best-in-class, novel therapies for cancer and infectious diseases & has set up a dedicated research center within Cytecare, which is committed to excellence in treating cancer patients.

The coming together of a leading innovator in drug discovery and a state-of-the-art cancer hospital promises to be a game changer in saving countless human lives. Bugworks' drug discovery engine coupled with Cytecare's excellence in delivering optimal clinical outcomes will offer differentiated solutions to patients all over the world.

Bugworks' current research in immuno-oncology centers around modulating the tumour microenvironment that includes adenosine antagonism - an area of research with applications across many solid tumours. The drug candidates from this research will undergo translational testing on patient-derived tumours in the ex vivo laboratories at Cytecare, prior to progressing to first-in-human clinical studies.

At present, immunotherapy is an important pillar in the armamentarium of cancer care. The currently approved agents are indeed life-saving, albeit only for a small segment of patients. Bugworks' approach, in collaboration with Cytecare Hospitals, offers new avenues to increase the percentage of patients who would benefit from these life-saving immunotherapies. The current collaboration is a small, yet significant step in helping India become a biotech powerhouse.