Pfizer and Imcyse launch research collaboration in rheumatoid arthritis
Pfizer Inc. and Belgian biotechnology firm Imcyse SA have entered into a research collaboration focused on developing novel therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has announced a research collaboration with Imcyse SA, a Belgian biotechnology company, to develop new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The partnership will focus on Imcyse's Imotope™ technology, which utilizes specific modified peptides targeting immune cells involved in autoimmune diseases.
Under the agreement, Pfizer will fund research activities and holds an exclusive option to negotiate a license for Imcyse's technology in the RA field for a limited period. Pfizer will also conduct preclinical evaluations of another of Imcyse's Imotope™ candidates, which targets multiple sclerosis (MS), to further understand the technology platform's mechanism of action.
Imcyse's technology is designed to induce a specific type of T-cell, known as cytolytic T-cells. These cells are intended to actively and selectively eliminate immune cells that drive autoimmune conditions like RA and MS. The approach aims to disrupt the undesirable immune response without broadly compromising the patient's immune system.
Rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are both chronic autoimmune diseases affecting millions worldwide. While current treatments can manage disease progression, cures remain elusive. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of potential new therapeutic options in these significant areas of unmet medical need.