Pfizer granted a
royalty-free license to the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) to
try to develop Selzentry (maraviroc) in a cream or gel for the prevention of HIV infection. The agreement
enables IPM to develop, manufacture and distribute a maraviroc-based
microbicide in developing countries. Microbicides are products that could be
applied vaginally or anally to prevent transmission of the human
immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. Pfizer's CCR5 blocker was approved
last August. The microbicides group also has agreements with Ortho Biotech unit
Tibotec Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences to
develop some of their HIV drugs. Pfizer granted a
royalty-free license to the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) to
try to develop Selzentry (maraviroc) in a cream or gel for the prevention of
HIV infection. The agreement enables IPM to develop, manufacture and distribute
a maraviroc-based microbicide in developing countries. Microbicides are
products that could be applied vaginally or anally to prevent transmission of
the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. Pfizer's CCR5 blocker,
approved last August, was the second FDA-sanctioned drug licensed by IPM. The
first was the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Gilead Sciences antiviral Viread
(tenofovir). The microbicides group also has agreements with Ortho Biotech unit
Tibotec Pharmaceuticals and with Merck to develop some of their HIV drugs.
Intelence
(etravirine), from J&J
subsidiary Tibotec Pharmaceuticals, was approved for treating HIV infection
in adults who have failed treatment with other antiretrovirals. Etravirine is a
non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) that helps to block an
enzyme which HIV needs to multiply. The drug, approved for use in combination with other anti-HIV
medications, received a priority review by the FDA.