Vanderbilt University and Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced today that they have signed a
collaboration agreement for the discovery, development and
commercialization of novel therapies acting on the mGluR4 glutamate
receptor, known as positive allosteric modulators or PAMs, for the
treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
Under the collaboration, the Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug
Discovery (VCNDD) will identify drug candidates from its existing
program, which obtained major support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation
for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). Bristol-Myers Squibb will have the
right to develop and commercialize products resulting from the
collaborative research program.
Under the terms of the agreement, Vanderbilt University will receive an
upfront payment and multi-year research funding to continue to discover
additional compounds. Vanderbilt is eligible to receive milestones and
royalties based on developmental success and worldwide sales of the
drugs emerging from the collaboration.
“The long-term commitment of and collaboration with the MJFF were
critical to advancing this program to the stage where it is now
perfectly positioned to work closely with Bristol-Myers Squibb for
further development,” said P. Jeffrey Conn, Ph.D., VCNDD director and
Lee E. Limbird, Chair in Pharmacology. “Partnering with Bristol-Myers
Squibb is a real win for Vanderbilt and for Parkinson’s patients.”
“We all look forward to a productive collaboration with Bristol-Myers
Squibb, which brings tremendous expertise and a strong commitment to
advancing the program,” added Craig Lindsley, Ph.D., VCNDD director of
medicinal chemistry.
“At Bristol-Myers Squibb we are dedicated to discovering and developing
medicines that address serious unmet need,” said Francis
Cuss, MB BChir, FRCP, senior vice president for Research at
Bristol-Myers Squibb. “As part of our strategy, we continually seek to
build relationships with organizations that have innovative programs and
capabilities that complement our own internal efforts. We are thrilled
to have the opportunity to work with the Vanderbilt Center for
Neuroscience Drug Discovery’s highly regarded scientists and
laboratories to potentially find a way to help patients with Parkinson’s
disease.”
About Parkinson’s disease
An estimated 1 million Americans have Parkinson's disease, a progressive
brain disorder characterized by resting tremor, rigidity and slowness of
movement. It is caused by the death of nerve cells in a specific brain
region that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine.
About mGluR4 PAMs
mGluR4 receptors are highly expressed in areas of the brain directly
relevant to Parkinson’s disease. mGluR4 PAMs represent an approach to
correct the dysregulated signaling observed in Parkinson’s disease and
pharmacologically mimic a surgical procedure that has been successful in
alleviating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
About Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a major referral center for the
Southeast and nation. Its research enterprise, which includes the
Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, is nationally known
for translating scientific discoveries into patient care advances. For
more information, see www.mc.vanderbilt.edu.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission
is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help
patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information, please
visit http://www.bms.com
or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews.
VanderbiltMedia:Bill Snyder, 615-322-4747william.snyder@vanderbilt.eduorBristol-Myers SquibbMedia:Jennifer Fron Mauer, 609-252-6579jennifer.mauer@bms.comorInvestors:Tim Power, 609-252-7509timothy.power@bms.com