Pfizer R&D investment strategy to include early-stage companies

Pfizer Inc. announced last week that its Research and Development investment strategy will be expanded to include companies in the initial phases of scientific advancements.

Pfizer will be providing these companies with equity and access to resources for research in areas that share its interests.

Four companies have already been selected to receive $46 million in financing. These companies are in early stages of exploring Conditionally Active Biologics (CABs), immune-oncology, neurodegenerative technologies and gene therapy. The four companies Pfizer has chosen to invest in are BioAtla, a company that specializes in engineering monoclonal antibodies with CAB profiles associated with cancerous tumors; NextCure Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on immuno-oncology therapeutic products; Cortexyme Inc., a company that is developing treatments designed to alter the course of neurodegenerative diseases; and 4D Molecular Therapeutics Inc., an emerging biopharmaceutical company working to develop transformative gene therapy products for serious unmet medical conditions.

Pfizer is providing these companies with access to world-class scientists, expertise and drug-discovery capabilities as well as contributing to the development of early-stage innovations. Pfizer’s scientific leadership will continue to seek out opportunities to help companies explore their areas of research to enable them to advance new therapeutic pathways.