Bristol-Myers Squibb and the Medical University of South Carolina have formed a translational research collaboration focused on fibrotic diseases, including scleroderma, renal fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The agreement includes studies designed to improve the mechanistic understanding of fibrosis, explore patient segmentation based on disease characteristics and/or biomarker approaches, and predictors of disease progression.

The collaboration will focus on addressing the unmet need in fibrotic diseases that are characterized by the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue, by identifying novel medicines to halt or slow disease progression. Among the assets in Bristol-Myers Squibb's fibrosis portfolio are BMS-986020, a lysophosphatidic acid 1 (LPA1) receptor antagonist in Phase II development for treating IPF, and a CCR2/5 dual antagonist in Phase II development for diabetic kidney disease. In addition, in November 2014, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Galecto Biotech AB formed an agreement that provides Bristol-Myers Squibb the exclusive option to acquire Galecto Biotech AB and gain worldwide rights to its lead asset TD139, an inhaled inhibitor of galectin in Phase II development for treating IPF and other pulmonary fibrotic conditions. Bristol-Myers Squibb and the California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr) also formed a worldwide research collaboration in January 2015 to develop small-molecule anti-fibrotic therapies and formed an exclusive license agreement that allows Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop, manufacture, and commercialize Calibr's preclinical compounds resulting from the collaboration.

Source; Bristol-Myers Squibb