Pfizer and Gero Form Collaboration to Discover Potential Targets for Fibrotic Diseases

Pfizer and Gero, a Singapore-based preclinical-stage physics-enabled biotechnology company, have entered into a research collaboration in which Pfizer will apply Gero’s machine learning technology platform to discover potential therapeutic targets for fibrotic diseases. The collaboration will use large-scale human-based data.

Under the agreement, Gero will receive an upfront payment. The company is also eligible to receive discovery milestone payments if the project progresses. The collaboration will leverage Pfizer's expertise and Gero’s technology platform to identify genes and pathways that are linked to fibrotic diseases. Pfizer may advance the potential therapeutic targets and would be responsible for any further preclinical and clinical development.

“Human data-driven drug discovery avoids the ‘preclinical trap’ and has the potential to identify clinically relevant targets against human (not rodent) diseases. However, genetics-based target identification against age-related diseases is hindered by the irreversible component of human aging,” said Peter Fedichev, CEO of Gero, in a Jan.6, 2023 company press release. “Our technology platform allows us to separate irreversible effects of aging from reversible disease phenotypes to potentially identify the most actionable therapeutic targets.”

“We are excited to work with Pfizer … to potentially identify targets against fibrotic diseases, which have a large unmet need. We believe that combining our platform technology with Pfizer’s extensive disease expertise has the potential to identify high-value targets in this disease area,” said Alex Kadet, chief business officer, Gero, in the release.

Source: Pfizer