Pfizer and NiCox select compound for eye study

NiCox has announced that Pfizer has chosen a development candidate in its research collaboration with the company.

The firms, working on nitric oxide-donating compounds for the treatment of diseases, successfully found several compounds that “fulfilled a number of key criteria”. Pfizer’s development candidate will become its responsibility, with Pfizer funding all work in the future.

As a result of an agreement between the two companies, Pfizer will pay NiCox 2 million euros immediately. The latter company has already taken 2 million euros from Pfizer, will receive another 33 million euros plus royalties if the candidate develops into a successful commercial product.

“We are delighted that our joint research collaboration with Pfizer has resulted in the successful identification of a lead candidate for development in only 15 months,” said Michele Garufi, CEO and chairman of NiCox.

“This is a significant achievement given the very high rate of attrition for compounds in research and demonstrates our technology’s ability to generate robust drug candidates.”

NiCox specialises in the research and development of nitric oxide-donating drugs, where it collaborates with other companies to bring products to market.

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