Pfizer’s Centres for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) have entered into a collaboration agreement to conduct research in the field of immunological diseases.

CTI and JMF will identify and co-fund translational research projects with leading academic medical centres within the CTI network. The goal of each research project will be to identify and validate a potential drug candidate for an immunological disease that can be moved into further clinical testing.

“Accelerating drug discovery is the goal of every CTI collaboration and this agreement aligns with two of our core therapeutic areas, immunology and rare diseases, where we have leading expertise and a long history in research and bringing treatments to patients,” said Anthony J. Coyle, senior vice president and CTI’s chief scientific officer.

“With a deeply committed partner like the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, we have an opportunity to leverage our respective expertise to help enhance our understanding of the complex immune system, which plays a key role in many rare diseases.”

The collaboration with CTI represents JMF’s first alliance with a biopharmaceutical company. “We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Pfizer as we broaden our commitment to make a world of difference in the lives of patients with immunological diseases,” said Vicki Modell, co-founder of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation.

“JMF’s expertise in primary immunodeficiency and extensive network of collaborators, combined with Pfizer’s impressive research and development capabilities has the potential to identify and advance novel research projects. Together, we hope to make meaningful advancements in our understanding of immunological diseases.”

Vicki and Fred Modell established the Jeffrey Modell Foundation in 1987, in memory of their son Jeffrey, who died at the age of fifteen from complications of primary immunodeficiency, a genetic condition that is chronic, serious, and often fatal. JMF is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to early diagnosis, meaningful treatments, and ultimately cures through research, physician education, public awareness, advocacy, patient support, and newborn screening.

Launched in 2010, Pfizer’s Centres for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) is a unique model for academic-foundation-industry collaborations, and to bridge the gap between early scientific discovery and its translation into potential new medicines.