Merck gains rights to cancer treatment
pharmafile | May 10, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co, NSCLC
Merck has acquired an exclusive license for a new cancer drug that’s in trials for a number of different forms of the disease, including non-small cell lung cancer.
Ridaforolimus was discovered by oncology specialist Ariad Pharmaceuticals, with whom Merck was previously working on a co-development and co-commercialisation basis.
Muna Bhanji, senior vice president and general manager, oncology franchise at Merck, said: “This amended agreement positions Merck and ARIAD to maximise the therapeutic potential of ridaforolimus by evaluating its properties in multiple cancer types and furthers Merck’s commitment to oncology research and advancing the health of people suffering from cancer.”
Under the restructured agreement, Merck has acquired full control of the development and worldwide commercialisation of ridaforolimus.
Ariad will receive a $50 million up-front fee and is eligible to receive milestone payments associated with regulatory filings and approvals of ridaforolimus in multiple cancer indications and achievement of significant sales thresholds.
Harvey Berger, chairman and chief executive of Ariad, said: “With Merck assuming all costs associated with the development, manufacture and commercialisation of ridaforolimus and providing ARIAD with near-term cash payments totaling approximately $69 million, we have greatly strengthened our balance sheet.”
Ariad and Merck entered into the ridaforolimus collaboration in July 2007 and have worked together to develop the drug in multiple potential cancer indications.
Ridaforolimus is currently in the phase III SUCCEED trial in patients with metastatic soft-tissue and bone sarcomas who have had a favourable response to chemotherapy. Full data results are expected in the fourth quarter of 2010.
In addition, ridaforolimus is being studied in phase II clinical trials in advanced endometrial cancer, prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, as well as in combination with various biological agents in other trials.
The oral mTOR inhibitor works by stopping signaling pathways responsible for cancer growth.
If ridaforolimus is brought to market it would likely compete with Novartis’ oral mTOR inhibitor Afinitor, which was approved by the FDA last April.
Afinitor currently has a licence as is a second-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following the failure of Pfizer’s Sutent and/or Bayer/Onyx Pharmaceuticals’ Nexavar.
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