Neurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Signs Research Agreement with Pfizer Inc. to Model Drug Interactions with the HERG Ion Channel, a Well-Known Source of Drug Toxicity
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 15, 2003--Neurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(www.neurionpharma.com), an ion channel drug discovery
company, announced today that it has signed a research agreement with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE;
www.pfizer.com) to develop experimentally based computational
models of drug binding interactions with the HERG potassium ion channel. Neurion and Pfizer
will use these models to aid in the development of new drugs designed to have a reduced risk
of potentially dangerous cardiac side effects.
In this collaboration, Neurion and Pfizer will apply Neurion’s proprietary NP2 technology to study
the mechanistic determinants of cardiovascular drug toxicity. This collaboration will combine
Neurion technology and capabilities in this area with Pfizer’s expertise and experience.
NP2 is a unique drug discovery and lead optimization platform that can provide highly detailed
information about the structure and function of ion channels and other membrane proteins, which
comprise more than 50% of all known molecular targets for drug therapy. Neurion believes that
the information derived from NP2, as applied to the HERG ion channel, provides a new tool that
will enhance the rational design of drugs that do not interact with the HERG ion channel.
Existing HERG binding assays and toxicity screens do not offer comparable insights for drug design.
Under the agreement, Neurion will receive up-front cash and milestone payments, while retaining
full ownership of its core technology. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"We are excited to have one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical companies as our
partner in this important collaboration," said Jon G. Lasch, Ph.D., CEO of Neurion. "Through our
agreement with Pfizer, we hope to further validate the value of our core technology, which has broad
application to many ion channels and receptors."
The HERG potassium ion channel plays an important role in cardiac repolarization to maintain
cardiac rhythm. Drugs that block HERG function disrupt cardiac rhythm and may lead to adverse
cardiac events. During the 1990’s, products removed from the market due to these effects resulted
in over $1.5 billion lost in annual sales. As a result, the drug discovery process today must
address unwanted HERG blocking activity. The lack of structural insights into the basis for this
unwanted HERG blockade makes its removal difficult and costly. By addressing this critical need,
NP2 technology may reduce the time and cost of designing drugs devoid of HERG blockade.
In addition to its HERG ion channel research, Neurion is pursuing internal product development
programs and industry collaborations around important drug targets such as nicotinic and
serotonergic receptors, GPCRs and transport regulators.
Neurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was co-founded in January 2002 by California Institute of
Technology scientists Dr. Henry Lester and Dr. Dennis Dougherty, and by Convergent Ventures
(www.convergentventures.com), a Los Angeles-based
life science venture capital firm. Neurion intends to leverage its NP2 technology to discover and
optimize new drugs for diseases of the central nervous system and other disorders associated
with ion channels and other membrane proteins. Neurion recently expanded to an 8,000 sq. ft. lab
and office facility in Pasadena, California.
