Pfizer and SFJ Pharmaceuticals to co-develop cancer drug

Pfizer has announced a new collaboration with SFJ Pharmaceuticals on the joint development of a new treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The collaborative development agreement will see the companies carry out a phase III clinical trial of Pfizer's investigational pan-HER inhibitor dacomitinib across multiple sites in Asia and Europe.

It will investigate dacomitinib as a first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with activating mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor, and represents the second collaborative agreement between SFJ and Pfizer.

SFJ will provide funding and clinical development supervision for the trial, with the aim of generating evidence to support the drug's regulatory approval in this indication, and will be eligible to receive milestone fees and earn-out payments if successful.

Garry Nicholson, president and general manager for Pfizer Oncology, said: "By collaborating with SFJ on the continued clinical development of dacomitinib in this patient population, we hope to more immediately bring a new first-line therapy to patients in need."

Earlier this month, Pfizer was granted European regulatory approval for its new renal cell carcinoma therapy Inlyta, based on positive data from the phase III trial Axis.