Pfizer, MicuRx and Cumencor to ally on tuberculosis research

Pfizer has entered into a new research and development alliance with MicuRx Pharmaceuticals and Cumencor Pharmaceuticals to create new treatments for tuberculosis.

The firm is allying with the two China-based health care companies in order to discover and commercialise therapies for multi-drug resistant strains of the respiratory ailment.

This research will take place at the ZhangJiang High-Tech Park in Shanghai, China using MicuRx’s proprietary technology, with Pfizer providing funding for the ongoing work.

Pfizer has expressed confidence that any treatments developed under this collaboration will complement its existing portfolio of anti-infective agents.

Dr Zhengyu Yuan, president and chief executive officer of MicuRx, added: “We believe that it is critical to pursue development of new therapeutic options for patients suffering from this devastating disease around the world.”

Earlier this week, it was announced that Pfizer will collaborate with biotechnology company MDRNA to develop treatments for a number of clinical targets based on RNA interference technology.