Noxxon has the appetite for an alliance with Pfizer
Berlin-based Noxxon Pharma is to collaborate with Pfizer on the discovery and development of Spiegelmer products and has agreed to give a Pfizer worldwide licence for its Spiegelmer for treating obesity.
Berlin-based Noxxon Pharma is to collaborate with Pfizer on the discovery and development of Spiegelmer products and has agreed to give a Pfizer worldwide licence for its Spiegelmer for treating obesity.
Spiegelmers are mirror-image RNA molecules not found in nature that, thanks to their unique mirror image configuration, exhibit high specificity and affinity and are not subject to degradation by nucleases. By screening extensive nucleic acid libraries, Noxxon identifies Spiegelmers that bind to the target molecule in a similar manner to antibodies.
Noxxon will use its Spiegelmer technology to create product candidates to disease-associated targets identified by Pfizer. Pfizer will have the option to select up to three targets per year to collaborate on.
Noxxon has also granted Pfizer an exclusive worldwide licence to NOX-B11, a Spiegelmer that binds to the appetite-related hormone ghrelin, which was shown to curb appetite and cause weight loss. Pfizer will be responsible for the worldwide development and commercialisation of NOX-B11 and other future products developed under the collaboration.
Thomas Klein, ceo of Noxxon said: "As a substance class, Spiegelmers are the next generation aptamers. They hold promise as a new therapeutic modality for treating numerous diseases."
Under both agreements, Pfizer will make upfront cash payments as well as r&d milestone payments. In addition, Noxxon is eligible to receive royalties on the sale of products commercialised under these agreements. Pfizer will also make an equity investment in Noxxon.