Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company are preparing to resume the Phase III clinical program for tanezumab,a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively targets nerve growth factor (NGF), a regulator of pain processing and sensitivity. As a result, Pfizer expects to receive a $200 million upfront payment from Lilly in accordance with their collaboration agreement.

This announcement follows a decision by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lift the partial clinical hold on the tanezumab development program after a review of nonclinical data characterizing the sympathetic nervous system response to tanezumab. The data were submitted to the FDA in February 2015.

In the prior clinical studies of more than 11,000 patients, tanezumab demonstrated clinically meaningful efficacy vs. placebo and other select commonly used pain medicines. A partial clinical hold had been in place for tanezumab and all other anti-nerve growth factor antibodies since December 2012 due to adverse changes in the sympathetic nervous system of mature animals. Studies in terminal cancer pain were allowed to proceed.

Tanezumab selectively targets NGF. NGF levels increase as a result of injury or inflammation and in chronic pain states. Tanezumab selectively binds to NGF, thereby inhibiting this protein from activating pain-signaling neurons.

Source: Pfizer