BMS in cholesterol alliance with China’s Simcere
pharmafile | December 16, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing | BMS, CETP inhibitor, Simcere, cardiovascular, emerging markets
Bristol-Myers Squibb is to co-develop a new compound to treat cardiovascular disease with Chinese firm Simcere Pharmaceutical Group.
The companies, which have already signed a deal to develop a cancer treatment, will now attempt to move BMS’s preclinical small molecule inhibitor of the Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) to clinical phase IIa proof-of-concept
No financial terms were disclosed, but Simcere will receive exclusive rights to commercialize the compound, called BMS-795311, in China while BMS retains exclusive rights everywhere else. Simcere, based in Nanjing, will run and fund the initial development work.
Inhibiting CETP could be important because it has the potential to raise HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) levels and therefore help prevent cardiovascular disease.
The condition is one of the ‘western’ ailments – such as diabetes – which are becoming more prevalent among China’s population of over one billion people.
BMS signed the original agreement with Simcere last year as part of its so-called ‘oyster’ strategy to seed companies in key markets with investigational medicines from its own early pipeline.
“That partnership, focused on an oncology compound, has gone extremely well and we are excited to expand our relationship to include a second collaboration in another therapeutic area,” said Francis Cuss, BMS senior vice president, research.
“Working together we are building on the strengths of both organisations to develop potential medicines and help patients,” he added.
Simcere’s R&D centres on conditions which are either prevalent or which have high mortality rates, or both – such as cancer, stroke, infectious diseases and pain as well as cardiovascular disease.
“We reached another important milestone in our partnership with BMS by expanding the collaboration to a second programme,” says Simcere chief scientific officer Peng Wang.
“It further demonstrates our commitment and capabilities in building a sustainable development platform with our strategic partners,” he added.
Adam Hill
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