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news.Evotec has announced that under a collaboration agreement with the company, Pfizer has initiated dose escalation studies for a Phase I clinical trial of a small molecule VR1 antagonist.
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The Phase I study is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled single ascending dose study in healthy volunteers to evaluate the compound’s safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile after oral administration.
The VR1 (vanilloid receptor 1) receptor is said to be one of the best characterized members of the transient receptor potential family of ion channel proteins. Antagonists of VR1, which prevent the activation of nerve cell signalling, are predicted to be useful in the treatment of pain, urinary incontinence and other diseases and disorders.
Michael Kelly, president of Renovis, Evotec’s US subsidiary, said: “We are extremely pleased that Pfizer has now initiated clinical Phase I with a VR1 antagonist resulting from our collaboration.
“Safe and effective antagonists of this receptor have the potential to improve treatment in multiple large indication areas where patients are poorly served by existing therapies. At the same time, this demonstrates the progress and productivity of our joint research effort.”