Pfizer, Lilly to resume Phase III tanezumab program

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) said they would resume Phase III development of tanezumab to treat chronic pain after FDA lifted a partial clinical hold on the compound.

In December 2012, FDA placed the hold nerve growth factor (NGF) inhibitors including tanezumab based on peripheral nervous system effects observed in animal studies. Pfizer was developing tanezumab to treat osteoarthritis (OA), chronic low back pain and cancer pain; trials in terminal cancer pain were allowed to continue. The agency lifted the hold after reviewing nonclinical data characterizing the sympathetic nervous system response to the humanized mAb against NGF. ...