Pfizer enters drug repositioning collaboration with Biovista
pharmafile | November 11, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | Biovista, FDA, Neurontin, Pfizer, Pfizer Indications Discovery Unit, drug repositioning, viagra
Pfizer has signed a pilot research agreement with drug repositioning specialist Biovista.
The aim of the collaboration is to identify new indications for a number of undisclosed Pfizer development candidates, using Biovista’s Clinical Outcome Search Space (COSS) technology.
The US, Virginia-based biotech company finds novel uses for existing drugs, and profiles their side effects using their mechanism of action.
Under the terms of the agreement, Biovista will collaborate with Pfizer’s Indications Discovery Unit to identify up to three novel indications for each of the Pfizer candidates.
The terms of the agreement include an upfront payment and success-based milestones, but exact financial details were not disclosed.
Don Frail, chief scientific officer of Pfizer’s Indications Discovery Unit, said: “We seek to benefit from the collaboration with Biovista and their COSS technology to expand uses for our drugs and to help accelerate our clinical programmes.”
Aris Persidis, president of Biovista, said: “Pfizer is an industry leader in terms of its drug repositioning efforts, supporting the vision that every drug may have potential beyond its initially developed uses.”
Persidis added: “Working with Pfizer on potential new indications may benefit expanded sets of patients with unmet medical needs, and is an opportunity to demonstrate the value of Biovista’s COSS technology within the drug development workflow of bio-pharmaceutical companies.”
Pfizer’s most famously repositioned drug was Viagra (sildenafil citrate), which was originally tested for angina but later approved to treat erectile dysfunction.
It has also had success with Neurontin (gabapentin), an epilepsy drug later given regulatory approval to treat certain types of pain.
Biovista is developing its own drug pipeline in multiple indications and is collaborating with the FDA on the prediction of adverse events, as well as with biopharmaceutical companies on indication expansion and de-risking of their portfolios.
Ben Adams
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