Pfizer agrees drug discovery alliance with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Pfizer has entered into a new alliance with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT) to develop new therapies for the most common mutation of the disease.

The new agreement is an expansion of the existing research collaboration between the two organisations and will see CFFT investing up to $58 million (36.42 million pounds) to accelerate the discovery and development of potential therapies.

Research will focus on the Delta F508 mutation, which is found in almost 90 percent of cystic fibrosis patients and prevents a certain protein from maintaining the proper flow of salt and fluids into the airways, causing thick secretions to form.

The companies have been working in partnership since 2010, when Pfizer acquired FoldRx Pharmaceuticals and opted to maintain its long-standing alliance with CFFT.

Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos, senior vice-president of Pfizer BioTherapeutics, said: "We look forward to continued collaboration with the CF Foundation and to applying our leading science with the goal of identifying novel therapies for the treatment of this devastating disease."

Earlier this month, Pfizer announced that it will be ending its collaboration with Auxilium Pharmaceuticals on the commercialisation of Xiapex, a leading therapy for Dupuytren's disease.