Pfizer and Imcyse enter research and licence agreement for rheumatoid arthritis programme
pharmafile | February 4, 2021 | News story | | Imcyse, Pfizer
Imcyse has entered into a research collaboration and licence agreement with Pfizer for Imcyse’s rheumatoid arthritis (RA) programme based on the company’s ImotopeTM technology.
The ImotopesTM programme induces cytolytic T cells, which specifically eliminate the aberrant disease pathway while leaving the rest of the immune system unaffected. The company’s lead programme is entering Phase II in Type 1 Diabetes, and its Multiple Sclerosis candidate is expected to commence clinical trials by 2022.
Following the successful completion of a research collaboration initiated in 2017, the companies have penned an agreement to develop ImotopesTM to potentially treat RA. In the initial period, the companies will collaborate to develop existing lead candidates and further optimise potential molecules, before Pfizer leads clinical development and commercialisation activities for the programme.
Under the terms of the deal, Imcyse will receive an up-front payment and Pfizer will purchase an equity stake in Imcyse to be executed in an upcoming financing round. Additionally, Imcyse is eligible to receive up to $180 million in milestones in addition to tiered royalty payments, and Dr Mike Vincent, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit at Pfizer, will join the company’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Denis Bedoret, CEO of Imcyse, commented: “This licence agreement constitutes a great endorsement and a sign of confidence in our ImotopeTM technology platform from one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world.
“We are excited to expand our successful collaboration to develop ImotopesTM for RA, a prevalent autoimmune disorder. It is our ultimate goal to develop curative treatments for autoimmune disorders for the benefit of patients worldwide. For diseases such as RA, this can be best accomplished with the help of partners such as Pfizer.”
Mike Vincent, Chief Scientific Officer at Pfizer Inflammation & Immunology, further commented: “I am very pleased to be joining the Scientific Advisory Board of Imcyse and for Pfizer to join in the development of the ImotopeTM technology in the field of RA.
“Pfizer is committed to addressing the needs of patients in rheumatology, and the Imcyse technology platform offers a unique scientific approach that we look forward to exploring further.”
Darcy Jimenez
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