University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: February 9, 2006

By MARY COCHRANE
Contributing Editor

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences today announced a "strategic alliance" with Pfizer Inc. that will provide up to $7.5 million toward development at UB of a Center of Excellence in Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics, and support training and research in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Pfizer will provide the pharmacy school with $1.5 million per year for three years, with possible renewal for an additional two years, to hire new faculty members, increase doctoral student enrollment, expand the school's postdoctoral fellowship program and support performance of cutting-edge research in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

With a 2005 R&D budget of $7.6 billion, Pfizer Global Research and Development, the research division of Pfizer Inc., is the world's largest privately funded, biomedical-research organization.

Pharmacokinetics is the study of how drugs are distributed and eliminated by the body, while pharmacodynamics examines the nature of physiological responses to drugs.

"Forging this strategic partnership with Pfizer represents a unique and timely opportunity for UB to further our research and training in the fields of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics," said President John B. Simpson.

"We're deeply grateful for Pfizer's support, both for its recognition of the significance and scope of UB's leadership in the pharmaceutical sciences, and for its commitment to working in partnership with our university to train the scientists whose research and discoveries will expand the boundaries of these fields.

"That objective is key to achieving our mission to provide innovative leadership in research and discoveries that benefit the communities we serve, regionally as well as globally," Simpson added. "As we pursue that mission, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with one of the world's most prominent leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, and we look forward to working in tandem with Pfizer to yield improved approaches to drug development, therapy and response."

Liam Ratcliffe, senior vice president, Pfizer Global Research and Development, noted: "We are delighted to establish this collaboration with one of the world's leading academic centers in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. It creates a tremendous opportunity for UB and Pfizer scientists to advance the scientific understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and the application of innovative techniques in developing important new medicines with greater speed and precision. We are pleased that this collaboration also will support educational programs at the University at Buffalo and create new opportunities for the training of scientists in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics."

Wayne K. Anderson, dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said that "Pfizer's choice of the university as its partner in this initiative underscores the company's belief in the pharmaceutical sciences at UB and in the university as a top-tier research institution."

"UB's strong partnership with Pfizer is built on the success of many pharmaceutical sciences graduates within their organization," Anderson said. "We are one of the nation's top pharmacy schools, and Pfizer considered the quality of science that we produce to be a driving factor in creating this strategic alliance. This partnership will enable us to play an even larger role as a leading source of research and training in pharmaceutical sciences."

Anderson noted that "designation as a center of excellence not only will confirm the school's recognized premier status in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, but will add international attention to its extensive training and research programs in critical areas of assessing and developing safe and effective drugs."

"In the long term, this center will offer Buffalo-Niagara significant opportunities for economic development because investors are attracted to areas where technology and human resources are available," Anderson added.

He credited the efforts of William J. Jusko, professor and chair of the school's Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Lisa J. Benincosa, Ph.D. '93, executive director of clinical pharmacology at Pfizer, for envisioning and organizing the new center and the alliance.

Jusko, a pioneer in the fields of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics who is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics, said the alliance will allow the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the pharmacy school to continue producing top-notch graduates who are actively recruited by industry and academia. UB has more than 50 alumni who have risen to key positions at Pfizer, ranging from research division leaders to vice president.

"We're considered a relatively small department and the new alliance will allow us to expand in numbers of faculty members and trainees," Jusko explained. "Pfizer's magnanimous gesture will increase our numbers of graduates, in addition to promoting the need for more training in the critical fields of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics."

The alliance with Pfizer will allow the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to hire two tenure-track faculty members, solidify support for two research faculty members and add at least two postdoctoral trainees and six graduate students per year. It also will provide $300,000 for new equipment.

Anderson noted that "it is critical that new faculty be given adequate resources to initiate a robust research program and this is supported through our alliance with Pfizer."