Biotech buy helps Pfizer expand neuroscience research
pharmafile | April 26, 2006 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Pfizer
Pfizer is to buy Californian Rinat Neuroscience, a biotech company which specialises in developing therapeutic proteins to treat central nervous system conditions.
“More than one billion people around the world suffer from neurological conditions and diseases, and finding new, more effective treatments for patients is a high priority for Pfizer research and development,” said John LaMattina, Pfizers R&D chief.
The most advanced drug in Rinat’s pipeline is RN624, a potential new treatment for acute and chronic pain now entering phase II trials. It works by inhibiting nerve growth factor, (NGF) which is thought to play a role in reducing chronic pain without side effects common in similar therapies.
“Rinat is a pioneer in developing protein-based therapeutics and we see tremendous potential in its research to develop new medicines, notably for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” he added. “Combining Rinat’s potential product portfolio with Pfizer’s capabilities is a further step in our strategy to enhance Pfizer’s internal research and development efforts with high-potential, externally sourced product candidates and technologies.”
Pfizer has a strong presence in neuroscience through its portfolio of top-selling medicines in areas such as neuropathic pain, migraine, depression, anxiety, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
The company says it has made significant internal and external investments in recent years to build a greater research presence in biotech drugs by focusing on key therapy areas that fit with its strength in small molecule research.
Rinat, which is developing novel approaches to neuroscience-based protein therapeutics, was founded in 2001 when Genentech granted the company broad licenses to its key neuroscience assets.
Another promising drug candidate is RN1219 for Alzheimer’s disease. The drug is a humanised monoclonal antibody and has been shown to reduce amyloid plaque in pre-clinical studies. The build up of amyloid deposits in the brain contributes to the progressive death of nerve cells in Alzheimer’s patients. Rinat has other compounds in late pre-clinical development for migraine prophylaxis and cachexia as well as discovery work in obesity, pain, neuropathy and Parkinson’s disease.
Related Content
NICE recommends Pfizer’s new once-weekly treatment for haemophilia B on NHS
Walton Oaks, 21st May 2025 – Pfizer Ltd announced today that the National Institute for Health and Care …
Pfizer releases results for severe RSV-associated LRTD treatment study
US-based Pfizer have announced results from its substudy B of the ongoing phase 3 clinical …
New Real-World Data Published in Journal of Cardiac Failure on Effectiveness
Patients treated with tafamidis were associated with greater rates of survival compared with patients untreated …
