With a view to developing a treatment for rheumatoid polyarthritis, Imcyse a biomedical spin-off, has signed an agreement with Pfizer. Two other projects aim to find a solution for multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. 

Developing innovative therapies that aim to treat and cure serious chronic diseases, the Liege-based biotech firm Imcyse, has signed a research agreement with Pfizer. The sum invested by the American group Pfizer, one of the pharmaceutical industry's global leaders, is confidential for the moment. 

The project concerns the development of an Imotope. This is a specific and modified peptide targeting the treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis. Imotopes target and destroy the immunity cells involved in auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid polyarthritis and multiple sclerosis. 

 "We are pleased to have signed this agreement with Pfizer because it shows the full potential of our Imotope technology and its potential application in pharmaceutical research", announced Pierre Vandepapelière (CEO of Imcyse). 

The first contact between Imcyse and Pfizer was established during the Bio-Europe conference in Cologne (2016). After several rounds of discussions, the two companies' directors decided to further their relationship and met again in 2017 at the "Boston Biotech Conference", a gathering of opinion leaders from the pharmaceutical sector.     

"We benefited from financial support from the Wallonia Export-Investment Agency in order to participate in these conferences, but without our drive, tenacity and experience in the pharmaceutical industry, we would not have succeeded", explained Pierre Vandepapelière.  

In 2017, Imcyse had already announced that it had obtained the authorisations of the Belgian and British authorities to start clinical testing on type 1 diabetes. This disease affects more than 40 million people around the world. Created in 2010 as a spin-off of KUL, Imcyse is currently based near Liege.