Noxxon Pharma AG entered a multi-year global collaboration with Pfizer Inc. regarding the discovery and development of Spiegelmer products. In addition, the two companies entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement relating to Noxxon's preclinical lead Spiegelmer for treating obesity.

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 commercialized under these agreements. Pfizer will also make an equity investment in Noxxon.

Under the terms of the collaboration, 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 with Noxxon.

Under the license agreement, Noxxon granted to Pfizer an exclusive worldwide license to NOX-B11, a ghrelin binding Spiegelmer that was shown to curb ghrelin-mediated appetite and caused weight loss in pre-clinical animal studies. Pfizer will be responsible for the worldwide development and commercialization of NOX-B11 and other future products developed under the collaboration.

Thomas Klein, CEO of Noxxon said, "The collaboration underscores Pfizer's commitment to entering into alliances with partners who are working with unique scientific discovery platforms. As a substance class, Spiegelmers are the next generation aptamers. They hold promise as a new therapeutic modality for treating numerous diseases."

Spiegelmers are mirror-image RNA molecules not found in nature. Thanks to their unique mirror image configuration Spiegelmers 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 manner conceptually similar to antibodies.

Berlin-based Noxxon Pharma AG develops biostable aptamers, novel substances based on mirror image nucleic acids. These so-called Spiegelmers are highly specific for the pharmacologically relevant target for which they were selected.