Pfizer, Renovis Sign Collaboration Deal for Neurological Research

Pfizer has entered into a worldwide collaboration and licensing agreement with neurological drug developer Renovis.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will pay Renovis a $10 million licensing fee and cover more than $7 million in research costs to support the development of small molecules that target the vanilloid receptor, or VR1, to treat pain, urinary incontinence, and other diseases and disorders, Renovis said.

Renovis, a San Francisco-based biopharmaceutical firm, will receive royalties on Pfizer's net sales of any product resulting from the collaboration. The agreement will run for two years, and Pfizer has an option to extend it for an additional two years.

The deal calls for Renovis and Pfizer to combine their VR1 R&D programs, pending regulatory approval. Pfizer will fund research and preclinical development efforts at Renovis and will have exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize resulting products, Renovis said.

The VR1 receptor mediates and influences cell signaling, including the nerve cell signaling that generates some types of pain; therefore, VR1 inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of inflammation and pain, Renovis said.