Pfizer helps ex-employees form new company Ziarco

Pfizer has provided funding and support for the foundation of Ziarco, a new UK biotechnology company run by a group of its former employees.

Based in Canterbury, the new organisation is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of first-in-class therapeutics targeting inflammatory and allergic diseases.

Its founders are Dr Mike Yeadon, the one-time vice-president and chief scientific officer of Pfizer's allergy and respiratory research unit, plus former Pfizer colleagues Dr Steve Liu, Dr Lynn Perkins and Dr Arif Shivji.

The new company is being formed following the closure of Pfizer's Sandwich research facility, which was sold off to a private consortium earlier this year.

In addition to receiving funding, Ziarco has also licensed four validated clinical and preclinical assets from Pfizer.

Dr Yeadon, who will act as chief executive officer of the new business, said: "Ziarco was founded to address the significant need that still exists for new, more effective ways to treat disorders underpinned by inflammatory and allergic pathobiology."