PFIZER ENDS DEVELOPMENT WORK ON TWO DRUG CANDIDATES

Pfizer has terminated the development of two drug candidates in its pipeline, one targeted at HIV/AIDS and another intended to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Pfizer is discontinuing the development of capravirine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor under study for patients with HIV/AIDS who have failed on available antiretroviral therapies. The company based its decision on two Phase IIb studies that failed to show a statistically significant difference between standard triple-drug HIV therapies and the same therapy combined with capravirine. Pfizer will return the rights to the compound to Japanese biotech firm Shionogi.

In addition, Pfizer and Altana Pharma have mutually agreed to terminate a collaborative agreement to develop Daxas (roflumilast), a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Pfizer said it is returning all of the product's rights to Altana, which will assume sole responsibility for the further development of Daxas.

Pfizer will continue to invest in other research activities in these areas to address the needs of patients and health care providers, said John LaMattina, president of Pfizer Global Research and Development.