Pfizer has acquired Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held company dedicated to the development of therapies for debilitating and life-threatening diseases that affect people with compromised immune systems. Amplyx’s lead compound, Fosmanogepix (APX001), is a novel investigational asset under development for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.
Pfizer says in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is actively seeking opportunities to build its portfolio of anti-infective therapies. Specifically with the Amplyx acquistion, Pfizer is hoping to progress the development of a novel anti-fungal treatments.
Fosmanogepix is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of both intravenous (IV) and oral formulations for the treatment of patients with life-threatening invasive fungal infections caused by molds, yeasts and rare molds.
More than 1.5 million cases of invasive fungal infections occur worldwide each year, with mortality rates as high as 30-80% across infection types. Fosmanogepix has a novel mechanism of action with the potential to target fungal strains resistant to standard of care therapy. As there are only three classes of antifungal medications currently available, antifungal resistance can severely limit treatment options. There has been no novel therapeutic class of antifungal therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in nearly 20 years.
In addition to Fosmanogepix, with this acquisition, Pfizer has secured ownership of Amplyx's early-stage pipeline that includes potential antiviral (MAU868) and antifungal (APX2039) therapies.
The acquisition of Amplyx follows an initial equity investment by Pfizer in December 2019 as part of Amplyx’s Series C financing.
Financial terms of this acquisition were not disclosed.
Read the Pfizer statement