Tuesday 15 January 2013 16:41 Siena Free.it
Philogen SpA – company active in the biotechnology sector which develops clinically investigational drugs – entered into a strategic worldwide licensing agreement with Pfizer Inc. for Dekavil, an investigational drug for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
The agreement stipulates that Philogen receives an advance payment and will be entitled to future milestones and royalties, while Pfizer will have the exclusive right to commercialize the products that will be developed from this collaboration.
Currently in Phase I clinical development, Dekavil has the potential to become a "first in class" therapy drug for autoimmune diseases. In addition to ongoing studies Philogen is conducting for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Pfizer plans to trial Dekavil for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Dekavil consists of an antibody which selectively delivers Interleukin 10 (IL-10), an immunoregulatory cytokine, directly to inflamed tissues. Unlike traditional drugs that work by suppressing the immune system, Dekavil works by selectively modulating anti-inflammatory effects only in the target area thus sparing side effects in healthy tissue and potentially restoring normal immune function.
"This license agreement with Pfizer gives a further impetus to Philogen's strong commitment to the approach that provides for the selective delivery of therapeutic molecules only to those tissues that need them.” commented Duccio Neri Chief Executive Officer of Philogen SpA "We are convinced that combining Philogen's vast experience in the field of drug-borne therapies with Pfizer's worldwide leadership in the field of immunology and clinical development can only favor the progress and development of Dekavil. The partnership will leverage above all on the excellent scientific interaction already existing between the two Groups”.
"Pfizer is committed to innovation of treatments for patients with serious autoimmune diseases.” said Jose Carlos Gutierrez Ramos, Senior Vice President of Pfizer BioTherapeutics R&D “Dekavil adds to our clinical trial pipeline an asset with a unique focus in immunoregulation – an emerging area that has the potential to help patients affected by these debilitating diseases”.
The clinical development of Dekavil it was created with the contribution of the Tuscany Region as part of the POR CRE operational programme
