Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY) is adding a new twist to the growing number of partnerships being hatched between corporate drug developers and academic investigators. While most pacts have been focused on the discovery phase, BMS is joining hands with the team at the Duke Translational Medicine Institute to design and execute a mid-stage study for a new treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, of IPF. And the two partners intend to go on from there to see if they can help rewrite some of the rules on drug development, joining hands on projects that run the gamut on development stages.
First up is a Phase II study for BMS-986202, an oral lysophosphatidic acid 1 (LPA1) receptor antagonist for IPF, which is slated to get underway later this year. And they plan to do new work on proof-of-concept trials as well as improving the enrollment process for their drug studies.
"We plan for this to provide an excellent example of how we can fundamentally improve the effectiveness and transparency of academic and industry partnerships and relationships," said Robert M. Califf, M.D., the vice chancellor for clinical and translational research and director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute.
The DTMI employs some 1,300 scientists, statisticians and support workers.
- here's the press release
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