Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to invest up to $58m in Pfizer partnership

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

The non-profit drug discovery and development affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has announced a major expansion of its research collaboration with Pfizer.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT) is to invest up to US $58 in a new six-year pre-clinical research program with Pfizer, with the aim of speeding up the discovery and development of potential therapies that target patients with the most common mutation of cystic fibrosis, Delta F508. The program’s goal is to advance one or more drug candidates into the clinic to start clinical trials by the end of the six-year collaboration.

"We are excited to expand our efforts with Pfizer to accelerate the development of more therapies that treat the root cause of CF and benefit the greatest number of people with the disease. Pfizer brings impressive technical and scientific expertise, along with its commitment to improving the lives of people with cystic fibrosis."

Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the CF Foundation.

"Innovative collaborations between industry and patient organizations are increasingly critical in expediting the translation of science into new treatments. 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."

Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos, senior vice president of Pfizer BioTherapeutics R&amp,D.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation began its research collaboration back in 2007 with FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Pfizer in 2010. Pfizer and the foundation announced last December that they would continue their research collaboration.

Overall, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is actively supporting nearly 30 potential new treatments for patients with cystic fibrosis, and has successful partnerships with Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi’s Genzyme.

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