SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Tacere Therapeutics, Inc., an
RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics developer, announced today that
it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer Inc.
to develop and commercialize its Hepatitis C virus (HCV) compound, TT-033.
The collaboration will focus on completing all necessary studies for
submission of an investigational new drug application (IND), as well as
clinical development and commercialization of TT-033.
"We are very pleased about forming a collaborative relationship with
Pfizer, and are excited about being first in the industry to partner an
expressed RNAi drug," said Sara M. Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Tacere.
"We have made excellent progress in the research and preclinical
development of TT-033, and are very happy to be joined by Pfizer at an
important time in the program's development. Pfizer recognizes the
potential of this first-in- class approach to provide a novel treatment
option for HCV patients and we look forward to working with the team at
Pfizer to advance TT-033."
Mike Catelani, Chairman, President and CFO of Tacere, stated, "We look
forward to combining Pfizer's and Tacere's complementary capabilities to
take TT-033 into the clinic. We are pleased that Pfizer has chosen to work
with us in developing this potential single administration RNAi drug to aid
in the fight against the global healthcare crisis of HCV."
Under the terms of the agreement, Tacere and Pfizer will form a joint
steering committee to oversee preclinical research and development efforts
for TT-033. Pfizer will fund all aspects of the collaboration, including
the preclinical development work and will have exclusive worldwide rights,
excluding all Asian countries, to commercialize products that result from
the collaboration.
During the initial phase of the collaboration, Pfizer will provide
Tacere with funding in order to complete the necessary IND-enabling studies
for TT-033. In addition, Tacere will be eligible to receive milestone
payments through successful achievement of development, approval, and
commercialization milestones resulting in total potential payments to
Tacere of over $145 million. Upon commercialization of TT-033 Tacere would
be entitled to receive royalties on net sales by Pfizer.
About TT-033
TT-033 is a novel therapeutic product containing three separate RNAi
elements targeted against the Hepatitis C virus itself and entrapped in an
AAV protein coat. AAV delivery methods have demonstrated clinical safety,
and preclinical studies with TT-033 have shown the ability to penetrate
hepatocytes (the site of HCV replication) at high levels following a single
intravenous administration. In preclinical animal studies, this "cocktail
in one drug" monotherapy targeted and cleaved the Hepatitis C virus itself
at three different sites simultaneously without toxicity.
About Tacere Therapeutics, Inc.
Tacere is an innovative biotechnology company focused on developing
therapeutics to treat serious infectious diseases using its proprietary
knowledge in the development of RNAi therapeutics. Tacere is located in San
Jose, California, USA and obtained its founding capital from Hokkaido
Venture Capital of Sapporo, Japan. Its lead therapeutic compound is TT-033,
an RNAi drug for the treatment of Hepatitis C. For additional information,
please visit http://www.tacerebio.com.
CONTACTS:
TACERE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Mike Catelani
Chairman, President & CFO
+1 408 839-1818
info@tacerebio.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gregory Tiberend
Richard Lewis Communications, Inc.
+1 212 827-0020 or 917 406-1880
gtiberend@rlcinc.com
SOURCE Tacere Therapeutics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.tacerebio.com
CONTACT:
Mike Catelani, Chairman, President & CFO of
Tacere Therapeutics, Inc., +1-408-839-1818, info@tacerebio.com;
Media: Gregory Tiberend of Richard Lewis Communications, Inc.,
+1-212-827-0020 or +1-917-406-1880, gtiberend@rlcinc.com, for
Tacere Therapeutics, Inc.
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