New medicine for diabetes type 2

Two U.S. pharmaceutical companies have teamed up to develop jointly, in the future, an experimental Pfizer drug for diabetes type 2, called ertugliflozina.

Pfizer Inc and Merck & Co Inc, which have collaborated on the development and marketing of a fixed-dose combination of ertugliflozina and metformin, a common treatment for diabetes. Both companies expect to begin the tests of the final stages in the course of this year.

So far, Pfizer has received $ 60 million in initial payment and while the project is being developed, it will receive additional payments  associated with clinical, regulatory and commercial achievements.

The companies said they will share certain costs and potential income on a  percentage basis of 60/40.