Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Pfizer And Belgium’s Imcyse To Develop Peptide Targeting Rheumatoid Arthritis

By Imcyse SA | January 9, 2018

Imcyse announces a research collaboration with Pfizer Inc. in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Imcyse SA, a Liège, Belgium-based biotechnology company developing active specific therapies for the treatment of severe chronic diseases, has entered into a research collaboration with Pfizer Inc. for development of an Imotope, a specific modified peptide, targeting rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will provide an undisclosed amount to fund the research activities, and Pfizer has an exclusive option to negotiate a license agreement for a limited period following the research activities. 

Additionally, Pfizer will perform preclinical evaluation of another of Imcyse’s Imotopes targeting multiple sclerosis (MS) to better understand the mode of action of Imcyse’s Imotope technology platform. Imcyse will have access to select technology platforms at Pfizer as well as all research results related to this collaboration.
 
“We are pleased to announce this collaboration with Pfizer, as it further demonstrates the potential of our Imotope technology and its potential application to pharmaceutical research,” said Pierre Vandepapelière, CEO of Imcyse. “The collaboration with Pfizer in these two fields of application will help us confirm the potential for our technology in others.” 

Imcyse’s Imotopes are specific modified peptides that induce a unique type of T-cell. Known as cytolytic T-cells, these actively and specifically kill immune cells involved in auto-immune diseases such as RA or MS.

Treatment with a specific Imotope has the potential to disrupt the undesirable immune response that drives the process of destruction of the healthy cells. Preclinical studies in diabetes showed a prolonged effect after just a few subcutaneous injections.
 
Multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis are both severe and chronic autoimmune diseases. According to the Atlas of MS, there are about 2.3 million people in the world with MS, although the number may be much higher as it is likely that many people with MS remain undiagnosed in certain parts of the world.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects nearly 1% of the population worldwide. These diseases have no curative treatment but can be controlled by Disease Modifying Therapies for MS and by Disease Modifying Drugs for RA.

(Source: Imcyse SA via Andrew Lloyd & Associates)


Filed Under: Drug Discovery

 

Related Articles Read More >

Lokavant’s Spectrum v15 uses AI to cut trial-feasibility modeling from weeks to minutes
Prime time for peptide-based drug discovery 
Why smaller, simpler molecular glues are gaining attention in drug discovery
Glass vial, pipette and woman scientist in laboratory for medical study, research or experiment. Test tube, dropper and professional female person with chemical liquid for pharmaceutical innovation
Unlocking ‘bench-to-bedside’ discoveries requires better data sharing and collaboration
“ddd
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in the drug discovery and development industry.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • Medtech100 Index
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE