Pfizer and Icagen extend pain drug deal
pharmafile | September 22, 2009 | News story | Research and Development | Icagen, Pfizer
Pfizer has extended its existing deal with biotech Icagen, aimed at developing new treatments for pain and related disorders.
Over the past two years the companies have identified compounds that target three ions as potential treatments, and the success of the partnership has lead to its continuation.
Gillian Burgess, chief scientific officer of Pfizer's pain research unit, said: "We have made substantial progress over the first two years of our collaboration and look forward to working with Icagen in the upcoming year in seeking to identify drug candidates from these targeted programmes."
Icagen is focussed on research and development in a number of disease areas, including epilepsy, pain and inflammation.
The ion channel targets included in the collaboration are sodium channels, which are important in the generation of electrical signals in nerve fibres that mediate the initiation, transmission and sensation of pain. By selectively targeting these sodium channels, the companies seek to develop effective treatments for serious pain disorders with few side effects.
The two companies have also formed a joint research committee (JRC) to monitor and oversee the collaboration. During its extension period, Pfizer will continue to fund all aspects of the research efforts at both companies.
The larger company will continue to have exclusive worldwide rights to commercialise products resulting from the deal, and will provide approximately $5 million in committed funding to Icagen over the next year.
remains eligible to receive approximately $359 million in research, development, regulatory and commercialisation milestones for each product.
Kay Wagoner, president and chief executive of the North Carolina-based company, said he was pleased with the agreement extension.
He added: "We have had a great partnership thus far and remain confident that the combined abilities of our two companies will help identify novel drug candidates directed at one or more of these important sodium channel targets for the treatment of pain and related disorders."
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