Initially, SpringWorks will work on potential programs for four rare diseases – desmoid tumor, neurofibromatosis, hereditary xerocytosis and post-traumatic stress disorder, all of which have no treatment as of now.
SpringWorks Therapeutics will run independently and will focus on advancing investigational therapies having significant potential in areas of urgent patient need. It already features four clinical-stage experimental therapies from Pfizer.
For desmoid tumor, SpringWorks plans to begin a phase 3 study to establish safety and efficacy of gamma-secretase inhibitor nirogacestat (PF-03084014).
SpringWorks is looking to launch another phase 3 study which will be to establish safety and efficacy of a MEK 1/2 inhibitor (PD-0325901) in Neurofibromatosis.
For hereditary xerocytosis, the start-up plans to assess the potential activity of Senicapoc (PF-05416266) in treating the genetic disorder.
The fourth experimental therapy to be advanced by SpringWorks is PF-0445784, a FAAH inhibitor which is planned to be assessed in patient populations that could benefit from its mechanism.
SpringWorks Therapeutics founder and president Lara S. Sullivan said: “SpringWorks Therapeutics will pursue the development of medicines across therapeutic areas, focused on diseases where there is an urgent need and the potential for the greatest impact for patients.”
The pharma start-up intends to grow its pipeline by collaborating with other like-minded life science companies and academic institutions.
Pfizer executive vice president and chief medical officer Freda Lewis-Hall said: “Pfizer sees SpringWorks Therapeutics as a groundbreaking new model for collaboration to deliver on the promise of medical research and development, so that more people have the potential to overcome disease.
“We hope that our investment in SpringWorks Therapeutics will, over time, enable us to realize even more value for patients and society.”
The founding investors of SpringWorks Therapeutics apart from Pfizer are Bain Capital’s affiliates Bain Capital Life Sciences and Bain Capital Double Impact, healthcare investment firm OrbiMed and medical research charity LifeArc.
Image: Pfizer world Headquarters in Manhattan, New York. Photo: courtesy of Coolcaesar/Wikipedia.org.