C-Further, an international consortium dedicated to developing new medicines for childhood cancers, has announced the launch of the first early-stage therapeutic programmes in its research pipeline. The initiative marks a significant step toward developing targeted treatments specifically designed for paediatric oncology indications.
The consortium has initiated two programmes, CF-012 and CF-033, which aim to address several high-risk childhood cancers where treatment options remain limited. These projects are supported by C-Further’s core partners—Cancer Research Horizons, LifeArc and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity—through an initial funding commitment of US$40 million (£30 million).
Through its collaborative research model, C-Further works with leading academic institutions and biotechnology companies worldwide to accelerate drug discovery for children’s cancers. The consortium provides scientific support, drug development expertise and funding to advance promising discoveries toward clinical development.
The first programme, CF-012, is focused on developing a potential therapy for Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer that primarily affects children and adolescents. The programme is being advanced in collaboration with researchers from the University of Virginia’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Brigham.
CF-012 targets a transcriptional dependency known as ETV6, which has recently been identified as a key factor supporting tumour growth and metastasis in certain cancers. The research aims to develop a first-in-class inhibitor that disrupts this mechanism and slows disease progression in patients with relapsed or metastatic Ewing sarcoma.
John Bushweller, Professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and a member of the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, said the collaboration provides an opportunity to advance new treatment strategies for young patients facing limited therapeutic options. According to Mr Bushweller, Ewing sarcoma remains one of the most challenging childhood cancers to treat, particularly when it spreads or returns after initial therapy. The programme also involves Kimberly Stegmaier, Chair of Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Miguel Rivera, Assistant Molecular Pathologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The second programme, CF-033, focuses on developing an innovative cell therapy designed to treat several childhood cancers, including bone sarcoma, medulloblastoma and acute myeloid leukaemia. The project is being conducted in collaboration with MiNK Therapeutics and supported by translational research from investigators at the University of Southampton.
CF-033 is based on an engineered invariant natural killer T-cell (iNKT) therapy that targets the PRAME antigen, a protein expressed in multiple cancers. The therapy is designed to trigger both direct tumour destruction and a broader immune response within the tumour microenvironment.
Unlike conventional CAR-T or TCR-based therapies, the approach uses allogeneic cells that can be prepared in advance and stored for use when needed. This “off-the-shelf” design removes the need for patient-specific manufacturing and may allow treatment to be delivered more quickly. The therapy is also designed to avoid the need for toxic lymphodepletion procedures, which can be particularly challenging for paediatric patients.
Marco Purbhoo, Head of Translational Medicine at MiNK Therapeutics, said the therapy leverages the unique biology of iNKT cells, which can both kill cancer cells directly and stimulate a sustained immune response against tumours. Ali Roghanian, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, is also leading research efforts within the CF-033 programme.
Lone Friis, Programme Co-Lead at C-Further, said the organisation is building a pipeline of potential first-in-class therapies designed specifically for children rather than adapting treatments originally developed for adults. The consortium follows a “child-first” development approach that focuses on therapies tailored to the unique biology and treatment needs of paediatric patients. Mr Friis noted that the initial CF-012 and CF-033 programmes represent the foundation of a broader pipeline that will continue expanding over the coming years.
C-Further has also begun preliminary research on a third project that has not yet been publicly disclosed. Additional therapeutic programmes are expected to be announced during 2026.
The consortium is currently inviting expressions of interest from researchers, innovators and industry partners interested in collaborating on future projects focused on childhood cancer treatments. The next submission deadline for research proposals is March 13, 2026.
C-Further aims to create a global ecosystem that brings together academic researchers, clinicians, industry experts and investors to accelerate the development of safer, more effective therapies for children with cancer. The organisation’s model combines academic innovation with industry-level drug development capabilities to help promising discoveries move more rapidly toward clinical use. By focusing specifically on paediatric oncology, the consortium seeks to address a long-standing challenge in cancer research: the lack of therapies developed specifically for children and young people.
