Roivant and Pfizer join forces to develop TL1A drug candidate

Switzerland-headquartered Roivant Sciences (Nasdaq: ROIV), a serial creator of new research-targeted start-ups, saw its share rise 7% to $5.74 by late-morning, after revealing a collaboration with US pharm giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to establish a new “Vant” company.

The as-yet unnamed venture will take over a phase IIb ulcerative colitis (UC) therapy from Pfizer’s pipeline dubbed PF-06480605, which will be renamed RVT-3101. RVT-3101 is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting TL1A, which is currently in Phase IIb development in ulcerative colitis (UC). The Vant has the exclusive option to collaborate with Pfizer on a next-generation TL1A directed antibody which recently entered Phase I.

Roivant plans to advance the drug for both UC and Crohn’s disease -- which represent close to a $15 billion commercial market in the USA, according to analysts at SVB Securities, who view this as a potential blockbuster dosed as a monthly subcutaneous injection with both anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties for applications in autoimmune diseases.