Pfizer has acquired Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held company developing therapies for diseases that affect people with compromised immune systems, for an undisclosed sum.
Amplyx’s lead candidate Fosmanogepix (APX001) is a novel investigational drug that targets fungal strains resistant to standard of care therapy, with its novel mechanism of action.
Fosmanogepix has shown wide-ranging activity in-vitro, along with wide distribution to several tissues including the brain, lung, kidney and eye.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not approve any novel therapeutic class of antifungal therapies in nearly two decades, said Pfizer.
Pfizer Hospital global president Angela Lukin said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark reminder of the devastating impact of infectious diseases, highlighting the continuous need for new anti-infective therapies to treat both emerging and difficult to treat bacterial, viral and fungal infections.
“We are deeply committed to helping patients suffering from infectious diseases, continuously seeking opportunities to build our portfolio of anti-infective therapies.
“We’ve already invested in assets that, if approved, could help address drug-resistant bacterial infections and critical viral infections; with this acquisition, we look forward to progressing the development of a novel anti-fungal as well.”
Fosmanogepix is currently being studied under Phase 2 clinical trials, in both intravenous (IV) and oral formulations, for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.
The drug allows the transition from IV to oral formulations, to potentially help patients benefit from the continuous treatment outside the hospital.
In addition to Fosmanogepix, the transaction allows Pfizer to obtain ownership of Amplyx’s early-stage pipeline including potential antiviral and antifungal therapies.
The acquisition follows Pfizer’s initial equity investment in Amplyx, as part of the antifungal therapies developer’s Series C financing round that closed in December 2019
DLA Piper served as a legal advisor to Pfizer for the transaction, while Cooley served as legal advisor and Evercore as financial advisor to Amplyx.
