BRIEF—Belgian biotech teams up with Pfizer on arthritis drug

Imcyse, a spin-off from Belgium’s Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), has announced a collaboration with the world’s biggest pharma company.

It will collaborate with Pfizer for the development of an Imotope, a specific modified peptide, targeting rheumatoid arthritis, with the US drug giant providing an undisclosed amount to fund the research activities.

Pfizer has an exclusive option to negotiate a license agreement for a limited period following the research activities and will perform preclinical evaluation of another of Imcyse’s Imotopes, targeting multiple sclerosis.

Imcyse will have access to select technology platforms at Pfizer as well as all research results related to this collaboration.