P&G "alliance" may be good news for Woods Corners
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.
Tom Millikin, spokesman for P&G Pharmaceuticals and Personal Health Care, said the production and manufacturing details “have not been ironed out or disclosed,” however the alliance could mean some added responsibilities for the Norwich facility.
“But at this time we don’t have that locked down yet,” he said Wednesday.
Mark Collar, president, Global Pharmaceuticals & Personal Health at Procter & Gamble said in a press release that P&G “is impressed with ARYx’s scientific innovation in its novel approach to make proven therapeutic mechanisms safer by engineering out specific metabolic and other problems that can cause significant side effects. The proven capabilities of Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals in prescription healthcare, combined with many years of deep GI consumer understanding developed through our successes with Asacol, Prilosec OTC, Pepto-Bismol and Metamucil will, if the drug is approved, allow us to provide physicians around the world a better treatment option for millions of people suffering from GI motility disorders.”
Earlier this year, P&G made a deal with Nastech Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. of Bothell, Wash., to develop and market its nasal spray for treatment of osteoporosis. Millikin said that was a good example of P&G’s plans to make deals with other companies that have “terrifically promising compounds.” He said the pipeline of drugs produced by some 4,400 biotechnology companies around the world “is very rich in the company’s area” of interest.
The Cincinnati consumer products company employs some 140,000 people worldwide.
Docherty assumed all external relations duties in June. He has been with P&G Pharmaceuticals since 1994. Norwich site manager Stephen R. Cammarn was unavailable for comment.
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.
Tom Millikin, spokesman for P&G Pharmaceuticals and Personal Health Care, said the production and manufacturing details “have not been ironed out or disclosed,” however the alliance could mean some added responsibilities for the Norwich facility.
“But at this time we don’t have that locked down yet,” he said Wednesday.
Mark Collar, president, Global Pharmaceuticals & Personal Health at Procter & Gamble said in a press release that P&G “is impressed with ARYx’s scientific innovation in its novel approach to make proven therapeutic mechanisms safer by engineering out specific metabolic and other problems that can cause significant side effects. The proven capabilities of Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals in prescription healthcare, combined with many years of deep GI consumer understanding developed through our successes with Asacol, Prilosec OTC, Pepto-Bismol and Metamucil will, if the drug is approved, allow us to provide physicians around the world a better treatment option for millions of people suffering from GI motility disorders.”
Earlier this year, P&G made a deal with Nastech Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. of Bothell, Wash., to develop and market its nasal spray for treatment of osteoporosis. Millikin said that was a good example of P&G’s plans to make deals with other companies that have “terrifically promising compounds.” He said the pipeline of drugs produced by some 4,400 biotechnology companies around the world “is very rich in the company’s area” of interest.
The Cincinnati consumer products company employs some 140,000 people worldwide.
Docherty assumed all external relations duties in June. He has been with P&G Pharmaceuticals since 1994. Norwich site manager Stephen R. Cammarn was unavailable for comment.
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