Pfizer and UCB form new drug-discovery company with support of UK
Technology Strategy Board
October 2008
Pfizer Ltd (NYSE:PFE) (LSE:PFZ) and Brussels-based UCB are to form a
new company, called Cyclofluidic, a breakthrough technology company
established with the aim of significantly accelerating the drug
discovery process by allowing researchers to test a greater range of
potential new medicines in a shorter time. The UK Government’s
Technology Strategy Board has helped facilitate this innovative
arrangement between Pfizer and UCB and will continue to support
Cyclofluidic by co-funding its R&D.
The aim of Cyclofluidic is to develop technologies that automate and
integrate processes known as flow chemistry and flow biology to help
pharmaceutical companies shorten timelines within the drug development
process.
Explaining the background to the Technology Strategy Board’s support,
its Chief Executive, Iain Gray, said: “Our role is to stimulate the
development and deployment of technologies which, as well as benefiting
society, also provide global business opportunities for the UK.
Cyclofluidic is an excellent example of the private and public sectors
working together to develop world-leading technologies which have the
potential to bring enormous benefit to patients in the UK and around the
world. We are delighted to offer our support and investment."
“Cyclofluidic’s entry into the rapidly evolving microfluidic
technology area has the potential to radically transform the medicinal
chemistry and biology interface.” Says Dr Neil Weir, Senior Vice
President Research at UCB. “It’s an exciting opportunity for UCB and
Pfizer to collaborate and offers real potential for improved
productivity, underlining our commitment to innovation for patients.”
Dr Annette Doherty, Vice President and Research Head at Pfizer’s
European R&D Headquarters said “We are extremely pleased to collaborate
with UCB and the Technology Strategy Board to help improve efficiency in
the drug development process. We are excited by the potential of this
new partnership to help us identify the most effective medicines for
later stages of development and — ultimately — create new and improved
therapies for patients.”
Peter Luke, Senior Director, Worldwide Business Development at Pfizer
said, “This is a great example of how public-private partnerships can
provide innovative technologies to speed medicines to market. We are
impressed by the way the Technology Strategy Board has initiated a novel
and creative deal structure.”
Cyclofluidic will be jointly owned by Pfizer and UCB, with each
company having both a seat and scientific observer rights on the board.
Currently, it takes between 12-15 years and a cost of up to £500
million to develop a new medicine. One of the most time-intensive and
skilful parts of pharmaceutical research is the screening of potential
medicines against therapeutic targets.
Cyclofluidic will develop a microfluidic closed loop lead
optimisation platform which will enable researchers to access state of
the art expertise in flow chemistry, flow screening and microfluidic
engineering. This will be addressed through extensive collaboration with
key academics and component manufacturers
Cyclofluidic will also provide training for both flow chemistry and
biology scientists at its facility, to be located in the South of
England.
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