Pfizer Increases Commitment To Rare Diseases With New Research Unit

In-licensing and development of so-called "bio-betters" will play critical roles in Pfizer's move, announced June 14, into the rare diseases space. The Rare Diseases Research Unit, to be overseen by Jose Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos, senior VP, Biotherapeutics Research and Development, will be part of Pfizer's worldwide R&D unit devoted to discovering novel medicines for orphan diseases, those affecting fewer than 200,000 patients. Initially it will target hemophilia and muscular dystrophy, both caused by genetic mutations