Pfizer taps Chinese expertise for novel drugs for MDR-TB
This article was originally published in Scrip
Pfizer has entered into an agreement for collaborative research with MicuRx Pharmaceuticals and MicuRx's Chinese affiliate, Cumencor Pharmaceuticals, for the development of novel therapeutics against multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
Under the alliance, Pfizer will make an upfront payment and provide research funding related to the discovery and preclinical development of novel molecules. It will also make payments linked to the development and commercialisation of these, including royalties on its sales of any launched products. Precise financial terms were not disclosed.
Privately held, US-based MicuRx specialises in the development and modification of clinically validated anti-infectives active against resistant strains. Shanghai-based Cumencor will apply this chemistry expertise to the discovery of new antibiotics against MDR-TB, with the research to be conducted at its facility in the city's Zhangjiang High-Tech Park.
MDR-TB is an increasing public health problem in China and other developing countries. A recent World Health Organization report covering 114 countries estimated that there were 440,000 people globally with this form of the infection in 2008. China is estimated to account for more than a quarter of all worldwide cases, with an incidence of MDR-TB more than twice that elsewhere.
A major reason for the emergence of resistance is lack of compliance with standard drug therapy courses for TB, which last around six months. MDR-TB can currently require up to two years of treatment with relatively more expensive and toxic drugs.
MicuRx is also working in other areas, and has just filed an IND in China for its lead development project, MRX-I, an oral oxazolidinone for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Clinical trials in the country are expected to start this year.
The company already has links with Pfizer in that CEO Dr Zhengyu Yuan was a founding scientist of Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by the US giant in 2005. Investors in California-based MicuRx include the Hong Kong-based private equity firm, Morningside Group.