Pfizer Buys Rights to New Autoimmune Disease Therapy

Pfizer has paid $25 million for the license rights to an experimental, preclinical drug designed to replace pooled intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy to treat autoimmune diseases. Currently, patients with certain autoimmune diseases receive IVIG infusions to bolster their antibody defense system in an effort to repel diseases. Gliknik’s GL-2045 is a recombinant Fc fusion protein that may be used in much smaller quantities to provide the same or better therapeutic effects than IVIG therapy. It can be transfused in two days, and could potentially offer a major improvement in the lives of patients with autoimmune diseases. “GL-2045 is the first of several innovative drug candidates Gliknik is advancing for people with autoimmune diseases and cancer,” said David Block, Gliknik’s CEO. “We selected Pfizer as our partner to progress GL-2045 from among several interested and capable parties because of its exceptional development, manufacturing and commercial capabilities.”