· Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common cancer and its incidence is constantly increasing[i]
· The partnership will combine the knowledge of Prof. Luciano Di Croce, group leader of the CRG, and researchers from his group with Almirall’s expertise in medical dermatology.
· This new collaboration stems from a call from AlmirallShare, the company’s open innovation platform, to find innovative therapies for skin diseases
Barcelona, Spain. May 25, 2023 – Almirall, SA (ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology, has entered into a research collaboration with the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), a world-class international biomedical research institute. The partnership aims to develop and characterize new preclinical models that will help identify new treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).
NMSC represents a significant health challenge, accounts for the majority of cancer cases and shows a consistent increase in prevalence. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma account for 70% and 25% of NMSC cases, respectively1. Through this collaboration, led by Almirall’s researchers Dr. Amadeu Gavalda and Dr. Cristina Gutiérrez, will merge the expertise of Luciano Di Croce (CRG group leader and ICREA Research Professor) and his team with Almirall’s deep knowledge in medical dermatology. Together they will establish experimental models that allow the identification and/or validation of new therapeutic approaches and the evaluation of new drugs for these diseases.
This new research collaboration stems from the call for proposals by AlmirallShare, the company’s open innovation platform dedicated to discovering innovative therapies for skin diseases. This platform was founded in 2017 to make dermatology research collaborations easier and accelerate the development of new treatments for skin conditions. The collaboration with CRG is another milestone in this endeavor, building on eight established partnerships based on models, targets and novel therapies for dermatological diseases such as hidradenitis suppurativa.
“NMSC is not an aggressive cancer, meaning that it has historically been difficult to model this disease in the lab. Major technological advances combined with multiple ‘omics’ approaches have now enabled the creation of truly functional scientific models for this skin cancer. So it’s an exciting opportunity to collaborate with Almirall and make significant advances in the study of one of the most common cancers.” say prof. Dicroce.
About CRG
The CRG is a biomedical research center in Barcelona. Founded in December 2000, the CRG is home to an interdisciplinary research team of more than four hundred scientists focused on understanding the complexities of life, from the genome to the cell and an entire organism. The CRG is a research center with a unique research model aimed at recruiting internationally recognized leaders in the field. The CRG is a member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and is a CERCA center, part of the Generalitat de Catalunya research ecosystem.
About Almirall
Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health. We partner with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patients’ needs through science to improve their lives. Our noble purpose is at the heart of our work: “Transform the patient’s world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life”. We invest in differentiated and breakthrough medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients in need.
Founded in 1943 and headquartered in Barcelona, the company is listed on the Spanish stock exchange (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 79-year history, Almirall has focused intensely on the needs of patients. Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in more than 70, with approximately 1,800 employees. The total turnover in 2022 was € 878.5 million.
For more information, go to www.almirall.com
[i] Ciuciulete, AR, Stepan, AE, Andreiana, BC, and Simionescu, CE (2022). Non-melanoma skin cancer: statistical associations between clinical parameters. Current Health Science Journal, 48(1), 110–115. https://doi.org/10.12865/CHSJ.48.01.16