Optimizing public-private partnerships to support clinical cancer research

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in cancer research have emerged as a pivotal model in the development of strategies to rapidly advance therapeutic innovations. The collaboration between public entities, such as government agencies and research institutions, and private entities, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as nonprofit organizations, brings together diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives to address the challenges of efficient drug development and equitable care delivery. This synergy has the potential to accelerate the translation of basic research findings into tangible clinical applications. However, the implementation of PPPs is challenging and fraught with pitfalls that must be overcome if the PPP is to be successful in achieving its goals. To address these issues, in October 2023, the National Cancer Policy Forum and the Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation held the "Optimizing Public-Private Partnerships for Clinical Cancer Research" workshop in Washington, DC. The goal of the workshop was to examine opportunities to promote collaboration among these various entities through PPPs to facilitate more timely and effective clinical cancer research. Key guiding principles and strategies were highlighted, and the challenges and barriers to implementing a PPP and recommendations to overcome those obstacles are summarized herein.