CHARLESTON, S.C. and NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The
Medical University of South Carolina and Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced that they have entered
into a translational research collaboration focused on fibrotic
diseases, including scleroderma, renal fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis. The agreement includes studies designed to improve the
mechanistic understanding of fibrosis, explore patient segmentation
based on disease characteristics and/or biomarker approaches and
predictors of disease progression.
“Bristol-Myers Squibb’s collaboration with MUSC further strengthens and
advances our Discovery research efforts in fibrotic diseases, a
strategic area of focus for the company,” said Carl Decicco, Ph.D., Head
of Discovery, R&D, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “MUSC brings substantial
expertise in translational research and drug discovery related to
fibrotic diseases including access to patient derived disease tissue
samples that will help us accelerate the application of scientific
knowledge to potential new treatment approaches for patients.”
“This is an exciting opportunity with the potential to make a
significant impact in fibrotic diseases and in patients’ lives with
these debilitating diseases,” said Karen Lackey, MUSC Center for
Therapeutic Discovery and Development executive director and pharmacy
associate professor. “Our goal with translational research is to shorten
the timeline in getting patients the medications and treatments they
need. We have unparalleled expertise in fibrosis research at MUSC, and
this collaboration with a leader like Bristol-Myers Squibb in discovery
and development of medications is going to take that foundational work
to the next level.”
Bristol-Myers Squibb and MUSC are committed to addressing the unmet need
in fibrotic diseases that are characterized by the formation of excess
fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue, by identifying novel
medicines to halt or slow disease progression. Among the assets in
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s fibrosis portfolio are BMS-986020, a
lysophosphatidic acid 1 (LPA1) receptor antagonist in Phase 2
development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF),
and a CCR2/5 dual antagonist in Phase 2 development for diabetic kidney
disease. In addition, in November 2014, Bristol-Myers Squibb
and Galecto Biotech AB announced an agreement that provides
Bristol-Myers Squibb the exclusive option to acquire Galecto Biotech AB
and gain worldwide rights to its lead asset TD139, a novel inhaled
inhibitor of galectin-3 in Phase 1 development for the treatment of IPF
and other pulmonary fibrotic conditions. Bristol-Myers Squibb and the
California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr) also announced a
worldwide research collaboration in January 2015 to develop novel small
molecule anti-fibrotic therapies, and an exclusive license agreement
that allows Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop, manufacture and
commercialize Calibr’s preclinical compounds resulting from the
collaboration.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission
is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help
patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information, please
visit www.bms.com
or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews.
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina
is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the
tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC
educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has
nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members.
As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and
its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.7 billion.
MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally
recognized Children's Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular,
digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (one
of 66 National Cancer Institute designated centers) Level I Trauma
Center and Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic
information or clinical services, visit www.musc.edu.
For more information on hospital patient services, visit www.muschealth.org.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term
is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
regarding the research, development and commercialization of
pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties,
including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and
could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from
current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed.
Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the investigational
compounds discussed in this release will be successfully developed or
approved for any of the indications described in this release.
Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated
together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's
business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors
discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2014 in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and
our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts
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Source: Bristol-Myers Squibb