Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Duke Translational Medicine Institute (DTMI) have formed a strategic relationship to broaden interactions between the two organizations.

The partnership builds on a decade of collaboration in cardiology, endocrinology and oncology, and will extend into other therapeutic areas at all stages of development, fostering increased exchange between DTMI and BMS researchers and scientists.

“Our work with Bristol-Myers Squibb takes advantage of the scientific and clinical expertise within both organizations and creates opportunities by removing barriers to collaboration, employing rigorous statistical analysis and encouraging the groups to learn from each other, while we keep our focus on patients and improving health,” said Robert M Califf, M.D., director of DTMI.

For the first project, the companies will continue development of BMS-986202, an orally available lysophosphatidic acid 1 (LPA1) receptor antagonist under investigation to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The cross-organizational team will co-develop and co-implement the protocol for a phase II study that is expected to begin in late 2012 and will undertake biomarker validation studies.

Future projects could include working together to accelerate promising investigational drugs into proof-of-concept studies, improving enrollment in clinical trials and developing disease educational programs.

“More and more, scientific innovation in drug development is happening at the crossroad of different disciplines; so, it is important to nurture relationships at these crossroads,” said Elliott Sigal, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, chief scientific officer and president R&D, BMS. “Our hope is that this partnership will allow the organizations to collaborate on projects involving all phases of research, development and disease education.”

BMS and DTMI have established a joint steering committee of functional leaders and scientists that will forge the partnership, identify the points of intersection and prioritize projects.