As reported by The Pharma Times, Pfizer and Ziarco, a UK biotech firm, have announced a £3.8 million research deal to focus on anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic medicines.
Ziarco was set up by Mike Yeadon, former chief scientist at Pfizer, along with three other ex-Pfizer employees. Originally set up in Canterbury, Ziarco is a clinical stage biotechnology company which focuses on inflammatory and allergic diseases.
The start up has proven extremely successful and has so far secured licences to several anti-allergy and inflammation drug candidates from Pfizer and has confirmed £3.75 million of a £16.8 million Series A round of financing from lead investor Biotechnology Value Fund and Pfizer Venture Investments.
Ziarco has now entered into an agreement with Pfizer for the exclusive worldwide rights to commercialise a portfolio of clinical, pre-clinical and research anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic assets. Pfizer will receive equity and Ziarco will use the proceeds to invest in the further research and development.
Dr Mike Yeadon, chief executive of Ziarco, said: “Ziarco was founded to address the significant need that still exists for new, more effective ways to treat disorders underpinned by inflammatory and allergic pathobiology. Each programme in development at Ziarco has the potential to be a first-in-class therapeutic and because they target critical points within inflammatory and allergic pathways they offer treatment options for diverse and difficult to manage diseases.
“Not only are we very fortunate at such an early stage in the company’s development to have licensed significant assets from Pfizer and secured funding from Biotechnology Venture Fund and Pfizer Venture Investments to progress development of these innovative therapeutic agents, but we have in place a highly experienced team which has deep knowledge of these programmes and has the passion and expertise to deliver.”
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