NORWICH – Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals announced a strategic alliance early this week with California-based ARYx Therapeutics to develop and commercialize the privately held drug company’s new drug for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

Local P&G spokesperson Scott E. Docherty said the alliance was treated as “good news” amongst the 200 analytical laboratory workers at the Woods Corners plant in Norwich.

“It’s good news. It means we have new drugs coming into our pipeline,” he said. The Norwich plant currently focuses on pharmaceuticals for muscles, bones, the digestive system and women’s health. Its Actonel drug is an oral treatment for osteoporosis and has more than $1 billion in annual sales.

The Cincinnati-based megabusiness downsized the Norwich plant’s workforce by 20 in February, however, due to a shift in business strategy. P&G Pharmaceuticals both here and elsewhere went from researching and discovering drugs to acquiring, developing and licensing already discovered drugs into a tablet, a capsule, or a patch that would be used.

“This (ARYx’s ATI-7505) is an example of that,” Docherty said.

ATI-7505 would treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastroparesis, the delayed emptying of the stomach. GERD affects approximately four to seven percent of the global population, or approximately 250 to 450 million people worldwide. It can manifest itself as symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation. More than 50 percent of all diabetics suffer from gastroparesis, or more than 85 million people worldwide. Gastroparesis can lead to severe symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting, and even malnutrition.