About PREVENT Cancer Preclinical Drug Development Program

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PREVENT Cancer Preclinical Drug Development Program (PREVENT) supports the best ideas in cancer prevention using NCI contract resources

PREVENT Cancer Preclinical Drug Development Program (PREVENT) supports the best ideas in cancer prevention using NCI contract resources.

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PREVENT is a peer-reviewed program designed to support development of the best ideas in cancer prevention using NCI contract resources. The program is a pipeline that focuses on unmet needs in prevention that are not adequately addressed by the private sector. Read more about Concept Application Peer-Review Process.

PREVENT will allocate NCI contract resources and expertise to generate data and materials, which are used by applicants of successfully approved concepts to further advance their novel cancer preventive agents (singly or in combination) or biomarkers toward IND filing and proof-of-principle clinical testing. Read more about Technology Transfer Considerations for the PREVENT Studies.

PREVENT has flexible entry points. Agents and biomarkers at any point in preclinical development from confirmation to advanced preclinical development clinical trial will be considered for support. PREVENT is NOT a grant program. Instead, PREVENT utilizes NCI-funded contractors to carry out the necessary next steps of research for applicants. All results or products are returned to applicants and used to support further development by the applicants or in partnership with DCP.

Minimal Entry Criteria for Agents entering the pipeline

  1. Mechanism of Action defined
  2. Target population identified
  3. Preliminary efficacy in relevant animal models
  4. Agent availability
  5. No known toxicity or other potential for harmful effects particularly for repurposed agents for long-term use

PREVENT Pipeline Stages

The PREVENT pipeline process: discovery, confirmation, optimization, advanced preclinical development, clinical trial.