The proposed acquisition will boost Pfizer’s expertise in infectious disease research and development by providing a complementary approach to help improve patient outcomes through RSV treatment and disease prevention through vaccination

800px-Pfizer_World_Headquarters_Entrance

The entrance to Pfizer World Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, New York. (Credit: Coolcaesar/Wikipedia)

Pfizer has agreed to acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company ReViral and its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) treatment candidates for up to $525m.

Under the terms of the agreement, the total consideration of up to $525m includes upfront and development milestone payments.

ReViral is engaged in the discovery, development and marketing of new antiviral therapies for RSV.

The company has a portfolio of therapeutic candidates, including sisunatovir, an oral inhibitor that can obstruct the fusion of the RSV virus to the host cell.

Currently, sisunatovir is being assessed in an international Phase II REVIRAL1 clinical trial in children.

The fusion inhibitor was demonstrated to lower viral load in a Phase II RSV human challenge study in healthy adults.

The development programme for the treatment is anticipated to progress in adults and children.

ReViral also has another RSV N-protein replication inhibitor programme with the lead candidate being analysed in the Phase I trial.

The proposed acquisition will boost Pfizer’s expertise in infectious disease research and development by providing a complementary approach to help enhance patient outcomes through RSV treatment and disease prevention through vaccination.

Pfizer will also expand its novel anti-infective pipeline with the ReViral acquisition and use its R&D, production and marketing capabilities to address the unmet need for RSV treatments.

Pfizer Bacterial Vaccines and Hospital senior vice-president and chief scientific officer Annaliesa Anderson said: “The proposed acquisition of ReViral’s pipeline of therapeutic candidates is complementary to our efforts to advance the first vaccine candidate to help protect against this harmful disease.

“Combining the capabilities and expertise of our organizations will enable us to further the clinical development of a potential therapy for those with RSV disease.”

In December last year, Pfizer agreed to acquire clinical-stage firm Arena Pharmaceuticals for an equity value of nearly $6.7bn in cash.

Arena is engaged in the development of potential therapies for the treatment of several immuno-inflammatory diseases.