Cooperation in R&D in the pharmaceutical industry: Technological and clinical trial networks in oncology

•Cooperation is essential for the technological and clinical advances of new drugs.•There is more interaction in the development of CTs than patent deposit.•Geographic location is still a relevant factor for cooperation.Organizations cooperate according to their interests in the development of a specific technology. Research and development (R&D) in pharmaceutical industries is essential for the development of new drugs and partnerships are responsible to achieve and maintain competitiveness in the market. Cancer represents a global health problem and new oncology drugs are essential. This study verified how cooperation takes place aimed at the invention (patents) and development (clinical trials - CT) of treatments with the primary target being oncology. Using social network analyses to generate technological discoveries, cooperation networks using patents, and a CT development collaboration network, the 526 CT and 294 patents were analyzed in collaboration between universities, hospitals, companies, and other institutions. The results show the evolution of patents from chemical synthetic processes to biomarkers and immunological checkpoint inhibitors. The associations of the CT network tend to have more partnerships than the patent network, which indicates greater trust and the need for complementary expertise. This study indicates that during the R&D stages of new oncology drugs, organizations search for actors of different types, as experts are needed for each stage. Although companies are predominant in both networks, research institutes play a central role in this connection. This study can be applied for researchers, universities, institutes and companies interested in R&D and in the other therapeutic areas.