Pancreatic Cancer Action

What Pancreatic Cancer Action does

Pancreatic Cancer Action is a UK-registered charity, structured as a company limited by guarantee (No. 07272699), that was founded in 2010 and operates with 17 employees from a Glasgow operational headquarters and a registered address in Guildford. The organization's stated focus is on improving pancreatic cancer survival rates through early diagnosis — a positioning it describes as unique among UK charities — addressing a disease it identifies as the UK's 5th biggest cancer killer with roughly 10,500 new diagnoses annually and a 7.9% five-year survival rate (rising to 29% for operable cases, of which only 10–20% of patients are eligible). It serves three primary constituencies: patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer, healthcare professionals (GPs, pharmacists, and frontline clinicians), and individual supporters/fundraisers.

The charity's core product surface is a PIF TICK-accredited library of health information resources covering symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment options (chemotherapy, surgery, symptom control), and survivorship. Patient-facing education is delivered through downloadable PDF booklets (chemotherapy, surgery preparation, post-surgery care, controlling symptoms), online resources, and structured information portals on staging, clinical trials, nutrition, and palliative care. The organization also funds clinical research programs — most notably the Safe-D clinical study (in partnership with ClearNote Health and the University of Southampton's Southampton Clinical Trial Unit, evaluating the Avantect blood test for early detection in new-onset type 2 diabetes) and a portfolio of academic research partnerships (University of Liverpool biomarker work, University of Sheffield Scanxiety PhD, Queen's University Belfast adolescent psychosocial study, University of Surrey type 2 vs. type 3c diabetes study), alongside co-funded PhD positions via the Future Leaders Academy and a long-standing Clinical Nurse Specialist role at the West of Scotland Cancer Network.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable income streams: individual donations (monthly recurring and one-off via website), text-to-donate SMS (up to £20), fundraising events (marathons, community events such as Turn It Purple and PJs for PanCan, workplace fundraising), corporate partnerships, and sales of branded merchandise through an online shop. Distribution and supporter acquisition occur through the website, six social media platforms, email newsletters, awareness campaigns (notably Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month), and direct events, all operated within a single-country (UK) geographic footprint. The organization holds PIF TICK accreditation, Institute of Fundraising membership, and Fundraising Regulator membership.

Name

Pancreatic Cancer Action

Legal name

Pancreatic Cancer Action

Website

https://pancreaticcanceraction.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pancreatic Cancer Action is a UK charity focused on improving pancreatic cancer survival through early diagnosis, providing PIF TICK-accredited patient information, funding clinical research (including the Safe-D early-detection study), training healthcare professionals, and supporting patients and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Health Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

akta.pro primary industry

Pancreaticobiliary Disorders (HLAKAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) (HLAJAOAM)

Keywords

• Pancreatic cancer awareness
• Health information resources
• Cancer research funding
• Patient education materials
• Charity fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations received through the website, text-to-donate service, and phone. Donations support early diagnosis initiatives, awareness campaigns, and research funding.
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue from events including marathons, challenge events, workplace fundraising, community events (Turn It Purple, PJs for PanCan), and collection stands
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate fundraising and charity partnerships with businesses for workplace fundraising initiatives
4. Shop Sales: Sale of branded merchandise and awareness products through the online shop

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pancreatic Cancer Action is a UK charity dedicated to improving pancreatic cancer survival rates through early diagnosis. The charity produces PIF TICK-accredited health information resources, patient education booklets on treatments and surgery, funds clinical research (e.g., the Safe-D early detection study), runs awareness campaigns, and supports patients, families, and healthcare professionals. It also generates revenue through donations, fundraising events, corporate partnerships, and an online shop selling branded merchandise.

Product overview

Pancreatic Cancer Action is a UK charity offering health information resources and patient education materials focused on early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Their portfolio includes patient information booklets (on chemotherapy, surgery preparation, post-surgery care, and symptom control), PIF TICK-accredited health information resources, research initiatives including the Safe-D clinical study, and a fundraising toolkit. The organization connects these resources through their website to support patients, families, healthcare professionals, and fundraisers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health Information Resources
• Surgery Preparation Guide
• Post-Surgery Care Guide
• Chemotherapy Information Booklet
• Surgery for Operable Cancer Booklet
• Controlling Symptoms Booklet
• Safe-D Clinical Study
• Fundraising Toolkit

Quantifiable outcome

• 29 people diagnosed daily in UK
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• West of Scotland Cancer NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince August 2018, Pancreatic Cancer Action has been fully funding a Clinical Nurse Specialist within the West of Scotland Cancer Network. The role provides additional resources to help support patients and families understanding of clinical trials and has contributed to enhanced participation and recruitment of patients to clinical trials including the Precision-Panc study.
• ClearNote HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClearNote Health, San Diego, USA is funding the Safe-D clinical study for early detection of pancreatic cancer. The study aims to evaluate a novel blood test (Avantect) to detect signals of pancreatic cancer in participants recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
• Queen's University BelfastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership conducting the 'Adolescents' Experiences when a Parent has Pancreatic Cancer' study, funded by Department for the Economy (DfE) Co-operative Awards in Science and Technology (CAST). The study aims to understand psychosocial experiences of young people aged 10-24 who experienced parental pancreatic cancer.
• University of SheffieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership conducting the 'Scanxiety PhD study' exploring experiences of scanxiety for adults with mesothelioma, pancreatic, brain and liver cancer.
• Southampton Clinical Trial Unit, University of SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducts the Safe-D clinical study evaluating the Avantect blood test for early detection of pancreatic cancer in patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes.
• University of SurreyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership conducting a retrospective case-control study determining differences between type 2 and type 3c diabetes, examining GP records from the RCGP database.
• University of LiverpoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership studying the link between type 2 diabetes and pancreatic cancer, originally funded by Pancreatic Cancer Action with follow-on funding from Cancer Research UK. Study aims to identify biomarkers that can distinguish type 3c diabetes from type 2 diabetes for earlier pancreatic cancer detection.
• Pancreatic Cancer UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Future Leaders Academy, co-funding PhD researchers investigating pancreatic cancer at the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute in Glasgow.
• Scottish Chief Scientist OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Future Leaders Academy co-funding PhD researchers investigating pancreatic cancer.
• Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute in GlasgowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution hosting the Future Leaders Academy PhD students funded by Pancreatic Cancer Action, Pancreatic Cancer UK, and the Scottish Chief Scientist Office.
• Precision-PancminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial study that the funded Clinical Nurse Specialist has helped enhance patient participation and recruitment in the West of Scotland.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: UK-wide cancer support charity providing information, financial help and nursing services. Comparable as a patient information and support provider, but generalist across all cancers rather than pancreatic-specific.
• Marie Curie UK: UK charity providing end-of-life care, support and information for people with terminal illnesses including cancer. Comparable on patient information and bereavement support offerings that PCA also delivers.
• Cancer Research UK: The UK's largest cancer research charity, funding across all cancer types including pancreatic. Comparable as a research funder and awareness driver, but operates at a vastly larger scale across all tumour types.

Emerging players

• Prostate Cancer UK: UK's leading prostate cancer charity, focused on research, support and awareness. Comparable disease-specific operating model, though operating at a significantly larger scale than PCA.
• The Brain Tumour Charity: UK disease-specific cancer charity funding research, support and awareness for brain tumours. Comparable scale and operating model to PCA, focused on a similarly underserved cancer with poor survival outcomes.
• Ovarian Cancer Action: UK charity dedicated to ovarian cancer awareness, research and support. Highly comparable as a disease-specific UK cancer charity with a similar size profile, donor model, and research-funding approach.
• Bowel Cancer UK: UK charity focused on bowel cancer awareness, research and patient support. Comparable disease-specific structure, PIF TICK-aligned information standards, and early-diagnosis advocacy model.
• Blood Cancer UK: UK charity funding research and providing information and support across blood cancers. Comparable scale and patient-information-led operating model to PCA, though addressing a broader disease category.

Regional players

• Pancreatic Cancer Scotland: Scotland-focused pancreatic cancer charity providing support, awareness and research funding. Closely comparable disease focus, but restricted to Scotland and smaller in national reach than PCA.

Direct peers

• Pancreatic Cancer UK: The UK's largest pancreatic cancer-specific charity, funding research, support, and campaigning. Directly comparable mission, patient base, and donor pool, but with materially larger scale and broader remit beyond early diagnosis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OfficialPCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PancreaticCancerAction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pancreatic-cancer-action
• Instagraminstagram.com/pancreatic_cancer_action

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Pancreatic Cancer Action