Under the 2005 collaboration agreement, Rigel will receive a $5 million milestone payment from Pfizer for the commencement of this study. Pfizer retains exclusive rights to R343 and is responsible for its clinical development.
R343 will be delivered via the inhaled route using a dry powder inhaler and will initially be tested in healthy volunteers to evaluate its safety, dosing and pharmacodynamics.
Donald Payan, executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Rigel, said: “Developing an inhaled drug product that may address an important pathway in the allergic response causing asthmatic airway obstruction and tissue damage gives new hope to millions of asthma sufferers.”