Pfizer Inc said it has entered into an agreement to acquire Serenex, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company with a phase I clinical candidate and an extensive compound library that targets Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90), an exciting target in the fight against cancer. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
As per the agreement, Pfizer will acquire the rights to SNX-5422, an oral Hsp90 inhibitor currently in phase I trials for the potential treatment of solid tumours and haematological malignancies. Pfizer will also acquire Serenex's proprietary drug discovery technology and extensive small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor compound library. Compounds from this library have potential uses in treating deadly and debilitating diseases, such as cancer, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. SNX-1012, another compound in clinical development for the treatment of oral mucositis in cancer patients, is not included in the agreement.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2008, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
"The agreement to acquire Serenex is the latest step in the execution of Pfizer's strategy to expand our commitment to oncology, an area where Pfizer plans to establish a leadership position," said Jeffrey Kindler, chairman and chief executive officer, Pfizer.
"Pfizer is committed to pursuing compelling science taking place outside our laboratories, and the agreement to acquire Serenex is a splendid example of those efforts," said Martin Mackay, Ph.D., president, Pfizer Global Research and Development. "The Serenex oncology candidate extends Pfizer's substantial internal research efforts to develop novel treatments for cancer, a leading cause of death in the United States and much of the world. The library of early phase compounds also has wide potential for utility in a range of neurodegenerative and anti-inflammatory disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and arthritis".
Serenex discovered its small molecule Hsp90 inhibitors using a proprietary high-content screening platform that enabled the company to rapidly and simultaneously optimize libraries of compounds against a multitude of important therapeutic and toxicity targets. This novel technology improved the overall efficiency across the entire spectrum of drug discovery by dramatically improving library screening, mechanism of action determination and toxicity testing, lead optimization and candidate selection.
Hsp90 is an important molecular chaperone protein that regulates the folding and degradation of client proteins involved in cell growth and survival. These signalling proteins play key roles in cancer, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. The potential of this exciting drug class in many other therapeutic indications is yet to be fully explored.
"We are pleased that our proprietary screening platform and product pipeline will become part of the superb scientific environment at Pfizer," said Richard Kent, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Serenex, Inc. "We are confident that Pfizer has the vision and resources necessary to leverage these new assets in its continuing efforts to produce much-needed new medicines".