National cancer institute helps businesses cross 'the valley of death'


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Access through your institution Buy or subscribe The San Diego–based biotechnology firm NovaRx develops new cancer therapeutics, including experimental approaches involving vaccines. Like


many other small companies, NovaRx faces a funding hurdle in advancing drugs from its pipeline into human clinical trials, says executive vice-chairman Habib Fakhrai. In the past, NovaRx has


gained support for clinical trials through the US government's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Now, small companies such as NovaRx have the chance to apply for


additional financial support from the government to move more cancer drugs into this testing phase: in May, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced that it would devote $10 million


annually toward a new initiative known as the Bridge Awards program. The Bridge Awards will complement the already existing SBIR program designed to help small businesses cross the


'valley of death'—the funding gap between the development and commercialization of potentially lifesaving innovations. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your


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* Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Boston Prashant Nair Authors * Prashant Nair View author


publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Nair, P. National Cancer


Institute helps businesses cross 'the valley of death'. _Nat Med_ 14, 795 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0808-795b Download citation * Issue Date: August 2008 * DOI:


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