Pfizer expands ophthalmology research through deal with Quark

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, Sept. 26 - Pfizer Inc. and Quark Biotech, Inc. said Tuesday that they have entered into an agreement under which Pfizer will acquire an exclusive worldwide license to Quark's novel human gene RTP-801 and to molecules that modify its expression or function.

Pfizer, a New York City pharmaceutical company, chose to license RTP-801 from the Fremont, Calif.-based biopharmaceutical company because it is involved in the development of pathologic blood vessels that accelerate the progression of age-related macular degeneration, according to a news release.

Financial terms of the agreement were not announced. The agreement is subject to clearance by the Federal Trade Commission.

The target for RTP-801 is neovascular or wet age-related macular degeneration. Based on preclinical models, it is believed that the disease can be treated by blocking the expression of the RTP-801 gene through RNA interference or RNAi. RNAi is a naturally occurring mechanism within cells for selectively silencing and regulating specific genes.

The ability to silence genes through RNAi could provide a new way to treat a wide range of human diseases - including age-related macular degeneration - that are caused by the inappropriate activity of specific genes, officials said.

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