Pfizer Drops Development of NNRTI Capravirine

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Pfizer Drops Development of NNRTI Capravirine

Pfizer announced last week that the company is discontinuing development of capravirine, an experimental non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) anti-HIV drug that Pfizer inherited from its acquisition of Agouron Pharmaceuticals.

It was hoped that capravirine would be active against strains of HIV resistant to the available NNRTIs efavirenz (Sustiva), nevirapine (Viramune) and delavirdine (Rescriptor).

Capravirine had been under development for eight years, which means that Pfizer likely earmarked significant investment in the drug. Pfizer said two Phase IIb studies failed to show a statistically significant difference between standard triple-drug HIV therapies and the same therapy combined with capravirine.

The rights to capravirine will be returned to Shionogi & Co Ltd of Japan.

Analysts at First Albany Capital had expected Pfizer would be filing with regulators for approval for the capravirine in mid-2005 and estimated revenue would reach $75 million next year.

The decision will leave Pfizer with one other HIV/AIDS drug in late-stage development, the entry inhibitor maraviroc. Pfizer has a number of potential HIV/AIDS drugs in early-stage studies, which it hopes will lead into development, said company spokesman Lederer.

Pfizer also announced discontinuation of development of Daxas from Germany's Altana. Intended as a treatment for COPD and asthma, the drug - once picked as a potential blockbuster - has been a disappointment in trials.

Following the announcement about the 2 drugs last week, Pfizer shares, a Dow industrials component, dropped 55 cents, or 2%, to $27.03.

07/06/05

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