Neuroscience

In the U.S. 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^® and Lyrica^®.

Neuroscience Conditions

Indications for medicines currently in phases of development, from Phase 1 through recent approval:

• Alzheimer's Disease – A progressive disorder characterized by the loss of memory and a decline in cognitive ability, it is often accompanied by a sense of disorientation. It is only in the last few years that researchers have made considerable progress in understanding the underlying causes of Alzheimer's, its effect on the brain, and how and why it kills brain cells, causing the devastation of many families and changing friends and loved ones into completely different people. Coupled with this is the wider appreciation and understanding about a disease no longer considered to be just a normal part of the aging process. Despite this growing knowledge, Alzheimer's remains one of the world's most undiagnosed diseases, with only an estimated one-third or fewer of the world's Alzheimer's sufferers (roughly 18 million people) receiving treatment. Through years of scientific research, the Neuroscience team now has a multitude of potential treatments for Alzheimer's in research and development. Coupled with this are the team's efforts to develop an effective tool to detect Alzheimer's early and, if possible, before onset of the disease. Pfizer's commitment to finding new medicines to treat Alzheimer's was cemented in 2006 with the acquisition of Rinat Bioscience and our partnership with Transtech Pharma.
• Bipolar Disorder, Manic Depressive Illness – A major mood disorder in which patients cycle between periods of depression or mania. It affects an estimated 2 million people in the U.S. Among Pfizer's efforts in this area is our program to expand the use of Geodon^® (ziprasidone), our successful atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia, to include bipolar "maintenance" - a term used to describe the ability of a drug to keep patients stable.
• Epilepsy – A disorder of the nervous system resulting from electrical activity in the brain, and characterized by unprovoked, recurrent seizures, which over time can result in severe neurological damage. Some seizures may be immediately life-threatening by resulting in an emergency medical condition termed "status epilepticus" - a near-constant state of seizure. Epilepsy and seizures affect over 3 million Americans of all ages, at an estimated $12.5 billion in direct and indirect costs. Pfizer's alpha-2 delta ligand Lyrica (pregabalin) is already approved as an adjunctive therapy for epilepsy, and is in clinical trials as monotherapy for the disease.
• General Anxiety Disorder – An uncontrollable worry about everyday things which can often impair a patient's normal daily functioning. GAD is distinct from phobias and panic disorders, although it can have similarly debilitating effects on patients, preventing them from working, socializing or even going outside of the house. Current treatment options for GAD sufferers are limited, and usually include a combination of psychotherapy and drug therapy. Medicines most often prescribed include benzodiazepines, Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Pfizer is exploring a new mechanistic approach to treating GAD which may have utility in treating a range of stress-related disorders beyond anxiety.
• Insomnia – The persistent inability to fall asleep or remain asleep throughout the night. An estimated 85 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from insomnia, with 28 million of those suffering chronically. While many drugs on the market effectively help insomniacs fall asleep, the unmet medical need remains for a medicine that improves sleep quality. Pfizer's work in this area includes a program that could potentially lead to a first-in-class medicine that goes beyond traditional sedative hypnotics to improve sleep quality.
• Schizophrenia – A chronic, highly debilitating mental disorder afflicting some 3 million Americans. Although nearly 2.9 million of those patients are diagnosed and 92 percent of them receive drug therapy, the unmet medical need in this area remains high. Though best known for its "positive" symptoms, which include hallucinations and paranoia, the disease is also marked by negative, cognitive and/or affective symptoms that can include depression, social withdrawal and memory function. Many patients treated successfully for their positive symptoms with atypical antipsychotic drugs such as Pfizer's own Geodon^® remain largely debilitated by various other effects of the disease. Others do not respond well to atypical antipsychotics, and still others suffer side effects that lead to non-compliance. Through years of research scientists have come to better understand the various symptom domains of schizophrenia, and today Pfizer is working to develop the next generation of schizophrenia medicines - drugs that seek to treat, safely and with limited side effects, the many facets of the disease that impact the ability of patients to lead normal, productive lives. The goal is to be able to provide schizophrenia treatments that offer fuller, more functional recoveries.
• Smoking Cessation – Aid to help people quit smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. It is responsible for five million deaths worldwide each year. By 2010, the World Health Organization estimates the annual global cost of tobacco-related illness to be approximately $500 billion. In 2006 Pfizer broke new ground in this disease area with the approval of Chantix, our partial agonist of the alpha4-beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Today we remain committed to expanding our efforts to bringing effective pharmacological treatments for nicotine addiction to patients.

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