Pfizer has collaborated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to expand its centers for therapeutic innovation (CTI) into the development of small-molecule drug candidates and enhance its drug discovery capabilities.
Researchers from UCSF will be able to access Pfizer's small-molecule drug development capabilities, and will collectively work with the latter's scientists to develop drug candidates that can bring new therapies to patients.
Based on the agreement, funding and scientific expertise will be offered by CTI to UCSF to support pre-clinical and clinical development of selected small-molecule research programs.
Following realization of agreed-upon objectives by the drug candidates, the collaboration between CTI and UCSF could move from discovery into clinical trials, which can further extended to offer payments and royalties if the product is commercialized.
Pfizer biotherapeutics R&D head group senior vice president Jose Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos said that as part of natural evolution of CTI, the expansion is one step ahead to develop innovative, differentiated medicines.
The current agreement follows a deal inked in 2010 between CTI and UCSF in large-molecule, also known as biologics - discovery, with an aim to develop new medications and therapies.
