Pfizer Expands mRNA Delivery with Acuitas Therapeutics Agreement
Exclusive Licensing Option for Lipid Nanoparticle Technology
Vancouver, British Columbia, June 5, 2023
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), a global pharmaceutical company, has entered into an agreement with Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ACU), a biotechnology company specializing in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems, to license Acuitas' proprietary LNP technology.
Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer has the option to license Acuitas' LNP technology for up to 10 targets for vaccine or therapeutic development. LNPs are nano-sized vesicles that can encapsulate and deliver nucleic acids, such as mRNA, to cells. This technology has been proven effective in mRNA vaccines, such as those developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for COVID-19.
"Pfizer is committed to advancing mRNA technology and expanding its potential applications," said Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer's Chief Scientific Officer. "This agreement with Acuitas Therapeutics will provide us with access to cutting-edge LNP delivery systems, enabling us to develop new and innovative mRNA-based therapies for patients with unmet medical needs."
Acuitas Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment and is eligible for development, regulatory, and sales milestones, as well as royalties on any products that result from the collaboration. "We are thrilled to partner with Pfizer, a leader in mRNA technology," said Thomas Madden, CEO of Acuitas Therapeutics. "Our LNP platform has the potential to revolutionize the delivery of mRNA therapies and we are confident that this collaboration will lead to important advances in the field."
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