Neuroscience
In the US today, 7 of the 10 leading causes of disability are neurological and psychiatric disorders. To meet these patient needs, Pfizer is taking a bold leadership approach that will evolve from dealing with symptoms to modifying diseases, where scientifically feasible. As a result, Pfizer has new approaches to attack Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and other debilitating conditions. In addition, we continue to expand inquiry into alpha-2-delta binding site agents, the mechanism that has already led to the development of Neurontin® (gabapentin) and Lyrica® (pregabalin capsules). Pfizer neuroscientists are eager to work with world-class partners who share our mission to improve the lives of patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders.
WRD is interested in establishing alliances to develop therapeutics, expand disease biology understanding, and identify biomarkers that impact:
- Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
- Parkinson's Disease (PD)
- Schizophrenia: positive, negative and cognitive deficits
- Cognitive deficits across CNS disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
- Monogenic Neurodevelopment Disorders
- Huntington's Disease, Addiction, Muscular Disorders, Eating Disorders, ALS, Friedreich's Ataxia, non-AD associated dementias (e.g., vascular dementias), Multiple Sclerosis, Neurobehavioral Disorders (e.g., Tourette syndrome, ADHD)
Specific areas of interest include:
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Neurodegeneration / Neurological Disease:
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- Novel potential symptomatic agents for AD or PD (could include LID)
- Agents affecting microvascular circulation and brain metabolism with validated link to AD
- Imaging agents (e.g., tau, neurotransmitters, neuroinflammation and gliosis)
- Translational biomarkers — preclinical to clinical
- Biological samples (e.g., IPSc) from well defined AD or PD patient populations
- Novel screening models for AD and PD drug development (all phases)
- Therapeutics for sensorineural hearing loss
- Treatments for non-AD dementias (e.g., dementia with Lewy Bodies, Frontal-temporal dementia)
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- Novel TRD treatments with ketamine-like profile (speed of onset / duration) without psychological side effects
- Adjunctive anti-depressant treatment
- Adjunctive agent with negative and/or cognitive symptom efficacy in schizophrenia
- PET imaging agent for CNS psychiatry targets
- Novel technologies for monitoring patient behavior, compliance and/or treatment efficacy
- Biological samples (e.g., IPSc) from well defined psychiatric disease patient populations
- Improved clinical or animal models of cognitive domains in psychiatry that are amenable to translation
- Quantitative neuropsychological testing methodologiess
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- Agents targeting core symptom domains (social behavior and communication deficits and repetitive and stereotyped behavior), important non-core symptoms: anxiety, aggression, agitation, GI, intellectual disability
- Programs with a strong genetic link to disease etiology and pathophysiology
- Pharmacodynamic neurobehavioral techniques such as eye-tracking/gaze-aversion and sensory stimulus response (e.g., PPI, acoustic-startle); or fMRI and/or MEG imaging
- Biological samples (e.g., IPSc) from well-defined ASD patient populations
- Basic research into Autism onset and disease progression
- ASD or monogenic animal disease models (including NHP) with relevance to human disease and characterized by behavioral, biochemical, genetic, physiologic underpinning
Psychiatry / Behavioral Disorders:
Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders:
Not actively seeking partnering opportunities in:
- Aß anti-aggregators with unknown MOA
- Aß lowering agents: small molecules (unless in P1 or later) and/or large molecules
- Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
- Anti-oxidants
- Dopamine agonists; COMT Inhibitors; MAO Inhibitors
- Stem cell therapy approaches
- D2/5-HT based APDs
- Stand alone mania treatments
- SSRIs, SNRIs
- Corticotrophin Releasing Factor (CRF)
