Pfizer Inc has provided dozens of its experimental compounds to the U.S. government for testing against a strain of the coronavirus, which is associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. A number of these compounds have shown “moderate” in-vitro (test tube) activity against the virus.

The company also said that it is continuing to identify additional compounds from its vast chemical library. The compounds are shared with the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) who are collaborating to test drug samples submitted from pharmaceutical companies to identify compounds that demonstrate in-vitro activity against SARS.

The virus first appeared in November 2002 in Southern China. Since then it has spread rapidly and to date has claimed over 500 lives worldwide.

Among the Pfizer compounds sent to USAMRIID is AG-7088, a potential treatment against rhinovirus, which causes the common cold. A paper published in the current issue of the journal Science stated that AG-7088 may be a “starting point” in the search for a treatment for SARS based on a molecular modeling exercise.

“This research is encouraging, but a great deal of work has to been done before we know if AG-7088, or any of our compounds that are showing some activity against coronavirus in a test tube can ever be developed into an effective medicine,” said Peter B. Corr, Pfizer Senior Vice President, Science and Technology. “We are working very closely with public health authorities and will continue to share compounds, analysis and scientific talent as appropriate.”

Dr. Corr said it is “a long and complex process from in-vitro findings, to have a compound work in man, and longer still to definitive proof of clinical benefit and safety in humans.”

“These compounds are available as the result of our extraordinary efforts to continually discover and create new molecular entities that may hold promise in managing disease,” said Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Hank McKinnell. “Our company alone is investing more than $5 billion annually in research and development, and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole has worked cooperatively with public health officials to respond quickly to the SARS crisis.