Against Breast Cancer

What Against Breast Cancer does

Against Breast Cancer is a UK-registered charity (No. 1121258) founded in 1992 by pathologist Dr Anthony Leathem and his wife Pat Leathem, headquartered in Abingdon, Oxfordshire with 23 employees. The charity is differentiated from other UK breast cancer charities by its exclusive focus on secondary spread (metastasis), the principal cause of breast cancer-related deaths. Its scientific portfolio includes the ABC Discover 5-year precision-medicine programme at the University of Southampton, antibody-based therapy research at the Centre for Cancer Immunology, dormancy and recurrence studies at the University of Sheffield and Barts Cancer Institute, and Junior Research Fellowships at Oriel College, Oxford.

The charity's flagship technical asset is miONCO, a multi-cancer early-detection blood test developed through ABC Discover and spun out into Xgenera for commercialisation. miONCO uses microRNA biomarkers combined with machine-learning algorithms and is trained on clinical data from 20,000 cancer patients, claiming 99% accuracy for 12 cancer types from a small blood sample, with an expected NHS price of approximately £120 per test. £2.5 million in additional funding was awarded in 2024 by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to advance the test.

The operating model is community-led and event-driven: income is generated from individual donations, the lottery programme, gifts in wills, merchandise sales, the bra and clothing recycling programme (expanded to Ghana, Kenya, and Togo), corporate partnerships (Cisco, Sophos, Taylor-Made Mobility, Slade Legal, LA Care), and a broad calendar of runs, walks, treks, bike rides, overseas challenges, triathlons, skydives, and community events such as Splash of Pink, Breast Walk Ever, Breast Tea Ever, and the Moobment. The charity operates a wholly-owned trading subsidiary, Against Breast Cancer (Trading) Limited, and is governed by a board of trustees chaired by Richard Bahu, with Bernie Jones as Chief Executive.

Name

Against Breast Cancer

Legal name

Against Breast Cancer Limited

Website

https://againstbreastcancer.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Against Breast Cancer is a UK-registered charity funding breast cancer research with an exclusive focus on secondary spread. It runs the ABC Discover precision-medicine programme, supports research at leading UK universities, and is commercialising the miONCO multi-cancer early-detection blood test via spin-out Xgenera.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Breast Cancer Research Charity

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Cancer research funding
• Breast cancer charity
• Medical research grants
• Community fundraising events
• Health charity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Abingdon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, community fundraising events, corporate fundraising, and event participation fees. Major events include runs, walks, treks, bike rides, overseas challenges, triathlons, and skydives.
2. Lottery: Against Breast Cancer lottery program providing regular income stream from supporters.
3. Gifts in Wills: Legacy giving program where supporters leave bequests to fund future research.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships, staff fundraising, event sponsorship, corporate volunteering, charity of the year partnerships, payroll giving, and cause-related marketing.
5. Recycling Programs: Bra recycling and clothing recycling programs that generate revenue through sale of donated items. Bras generate approximately £700 per tonne.
6. Merchandise Shop: E-commerce shop selling branded merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Against Breast Cancer is a UK-registered charity that funds breast cancer research focused on the three pillars of Prevention, Detection, and Therapies, with a unique emphasis on secondary (metastatic) spread. The charity raises donations through community fundraising, corporate partnerships, recycling programmes, a lottery, legacy gifts in Wills, and merchandise sales, and channels those funds into research at leading UK universities including Oxford, Southampton, Sheffield, and Barts Cancer Institute. Its flagship funded outputs include the miONCO multi-cancer early detection blood test and the ABC Discover precision medicine research programme.

Product overview

Against Breast Cancer is a UK-based breast cancer research charity offering fundraising campaigns, educational resources, and funding research into secondary breast cancer spread. The charity's flagship products include the miONCO blood test (developed with University of Southampton spinoff Xgenera) for multi-cancer early detection, and the ABC Discover precision medicine programme creating molecular handprints for breast cancer detection. Additional offerings include community fundraising campaigns (Splash of Pink, Breast Tea Ever, The Moobment), bra recycling programme, virtual laboratory tours, and the Together newsletter for supporter updates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABC Discover: A 5-year research programme at University of Southampton focused on precision medicine in breast cancer, using molecular phenotyping to improve early detection rates and understand diet/lifestyle impact on recurrence.
• ABC Sports Hub
• miONCO

Products and services

• miONCO Blood Test A revolutionary multi-cancer early detection blood test that detects 12 of the most common and deadly cancers including breast, prostate, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer at early stages with 99% accuracy using microRNA biomarkers and machine learning algorithms. Expected to cost approximately £120 per test once available.
• ABC Discover Research Programme A 5-year precision medicine research programme at the University of Southampton that performs molecular phenotyping to create 'molecular handprints' of breast cancer, advancing understanding and developing biomarker tools for earlier detection of metastatic breast cancer.
• Bra Recycling Programme A charity programme collecting unwanted bras through bra banks and postal donations, raising funds for breast cancer research while recycling clothing. Bras generate approximately £700 per tonne.
• Against Breast Cancer Lottery A subscription lottery programme that provides a regular income stream from supporters in exchange for entries into regular draws, with proceeds funding breast cancer research.
• Against Breast Cancer Merchandise Shop An e-commerce shop at shop.againstbreastcancer.org.uk (plus an eBay storefront) selling branded merchandise, with proceeds supporting breast cancer research.
• Community Fundraising Events Organised runs, walks, treks, bike rides, triathlons, skydives, overseas challenges, and community events such as Breast Walk Ever, Splash of Pink, Breast Tea Ever, Pubs in Pink, and Paint Abingdon Pink, where participants raise sponsorship funds for breast cancer research.
• Gifts in Wills Programme A legacy giving programme through which supporters leave bequests to fund future breast cancer research.

Quantifiable outcome

• miONCO test detects 12 most common cancers with 99% accuracy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Taylor-Made MobilityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Headline sponsor for Paint Abingdon Pink 2026 event.
• Slade LegalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor for Paint Abingdon Pink 2026 event.
• LA CareminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor for Paint Abingdon Pink 2026 event.
• Male Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Global non-profit based in America aiming to educate the world about male breast cancer. Co-founded by Bret Miller (male breast cancer survivor) and Cheri Ambrose. Partnership for Moobment campaign during Men's Health Week and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
• De Montfort University LeicesterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaboration with Dr Kerry Quincey, psychologist researching psycho-emotional impact of breast cancer on male patients. Providing expert insights for male-specific patient information leaflet and broader communications.
• Cisco UK Cancer Support NetworkmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Corporate partner that raised £24,477 to fund PhD researcher Hannah Smith for one year at University of Southampton. Funded through Christmas events, cake sales, marathon running, and various staff fundraising activities.
• University of Oxford - Oriel CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2018Junior Research Fellowship scheme launched in 2018 providing 3-year fellowships for breast cancer researchers. Extended to 2028 thanks to gift from Dr Alexander H. Todd. Current fellows include Dr Andrew Blackford (BRCA1/BRCA2 research) and Dr Simon Lord (metformin and breast cancer metabolism). First ABC Research Conference held at Oriel College Oxford.
• University of Southampton - Centre for Cancer ImmunologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre for Cancer Immunology at University of Southampton hosts Against Breast Cancer funded research including miONCO test development, antibody-based therapies (Dr Charles Birts, Professor Max Crispin), ABC Discover project (Dr Paul Skipp), and the Therapeutic Antibody program. Researchers contribute to virtual lab tours and present at charity events.
• University of Sheffield - Department of Oncology and MetabolismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch on dormant breast cancer cells that survive chemotherapy (Dr Lewis Quayle, Professor Ingunn Holen) to prevent breast cancer recurrence. Funded by seed grants up to £50,000 and additional funding for 8-month projects studying non-dividing breast cancer cells.
• Barts Cancer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch on tumour microenvironment and immunotherapy response for triple negative breast cancer led by Dr Oliver Pearce. PhD student Priyanka Hirani researching immunotherapy response techniques, with collaboration planned with Prof. Tom Wight at Benaroya Institute, Seattle.
• XgeneracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity spin-out company co-founded by Dr Andy Shapanis and Professor Paul Skipp to develop and commercialize the miONCO multi-cancer early detection blood test. Received £2.5 million NIHR funding plus external investment from Qantx, Empirical Ventures, and Ascension Ventures.
• SophosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the Against Breast Cancer community training day in April 2025, providing facilities free of charge for the event featuring research presentations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: UK charity providing practical, emotional, and financial support to people with cancer including breast cancer. A broader incumbent operating in the UK cancer charity space with significant brand recognition and donor base.
• Cancer Research UK: The UK's largest cancer research charity, funding a broad portfolio including breast cancer research, early detection, and treatment. Acts as a broad incumbent adjacent to Against Breast Cancer's specialty focus area.
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF): US-based nonprofit funding breast cancer research globally. A larger, geographically broader player in the same disease-specific research funding domain; relevant for understanding international peers and benchmarking research output.
• Institute of Cancer Research: UK research institution and charity that conducts and funds cancer research, including breast cancer. Represents a major player in UK oncology research with whom Against Breast Cancer collaborates and competes for talent and funding.

Direct peers

• Prostate Cancer UK: UK disease-specific cancer research charity focused on prostate cancer. Reached major charity scale through focused fundraising and research investment — a comparable archetype for specialty cancer research charities.
• Breast Cancer Now: The UK's largest dedicated breast cancer charity, funding research, providing support, and campaigning on breast cancer. Direct peer with a similar mission (breast cancer research funding) but much larger scale and broader scope including patient support services.
• Ovarian Cancer Action: UK women's cancer research charity focused on ovarian cancer early detection and treatment. Operates with a similar disease-specific research funding model and donor base of female health-focused supporters.
• Anthony Nolan: UK charity that funds research and operates a stem cell register; similar mid-sized UK charity structure with research funding as a core activity. Comparable operating model and fundraising scale.
• Pancreatic Cancer UK: UK disease-specific cancer research charity with a similar model: focused research funding, community fundraising, and a lean operating structure. Mirrors Against Breast Cancer's specialist approach to a different cancer type.

Emerging players

• Xgenera: University of Southampton spin-out co-founded by Dr Andy Shapanis and Professor Paul Skipp that is commercialising the miONCO multi-cancer early-detection blood test developed with Against Breast Cancer funding. Closely tied entity and direct commercial extension of the charity's research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AgainstBreastCancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/againstbc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/against-breast-cancer
• Instagraminstagram.com/againstbreastcancer1

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Against Breast Cancer