Cyprotex has inked a research deal with Pfizer ($PFE) to lend its in-vitro toxicology know-how in an 18-month project designed to further develop the U.K. CRO's offerings.
Details are scarce on the deal, but the contract is divided into phases, with the second 9 months contingent on milestones set out for Cyprotex. Neither company disclosed financial information, but Cyprotex CEO Anthony Baxter said the two will work to advance the field of predictive toxicology.
"Predicting drug-induced toxicity is a challenging field, and we are making significant advances by combining our knowledge with that of our partners and clients," Baxter said in a statement.
Cyprotex specializes in absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) for drug compounds, providing in-vitro lab testing for toxicity and computer modeling. Traditionally, toxicology testing takes place after the fact, a sluggish process often requiring time-consuming studies in rats, Baxter told Outsourcing-Pharma. Cyprotex's predictive abilities allow drug developers to streamline that process, he said, and as the industry is catching on, Baxter's company is reaping the benefits.
The Pfizer deal follows a licensing agreement with Sigma-Aldrich ($SIAL) last month, allowing Cyprotex to use the company's drug candidate screening technology in its ADME offerings. Before that, Cyprotex teamed up with InSphero to launch a predictive toxicity screening with liver models.
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