Merck KGaA signs MS and cancer research deal
pharmafile | October 5, 2011 | News story | Research and Development | Merck KGaA
Merck KGaA has signed development deals with Japanese firm Ono Pharmaceutical Co around two investigational treatments, one for multiple sclerosis and one for cancer.
The first agreement gives Merck worldwide exclusive licence rights outside of Japan, Korea and Taiwan for ONO-4641, an oral investigational sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator in Phase II.
Discovered and developed by Ono, ONO-4641 is currently being studied in the DreaMS trial in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.
Merck’s Merck Serono division will pay Ono 1.5 billion Japanese Yen (14 million euros) along with potential milestone payments.
The second sees Ono taking co-development and co-marketing rights in Japan for Merck’s investigational therapeutic cancer immunotherapy Stimuvax, which is in Phase III outside Japan for patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer.
Merck Serono will receive an upfront payment of 5 million euros from Ono. A Phase II study for Stimuvax is being carried out in Japan by local subsidiary Merck Serono Co.
The drug is designed to stimulate the immune system to target cancer cells expressing the tumour antigen MUC-1.
“We are excited about adding a potential oral treatment, ONO-4641, to our pipeline,” said Stefan Oschmann, Merck executive board member responsible for Merck Serono.
“We also believe that Ono will bring a wealth of experience in developing innovative therapies and understanding regulatory requirements in Japan,” he added.
There is competition in the multiple sclerosis market, dominated at present by Teva’s Copaxone (which made $3.3 billion last year), Biogen with its beta interferon Avonex ($2.5bn) and Tysabri, co-marketed with Elan, ($1.2bn).
In August Biogen and Abbott’s MS drug daclizumab, a new injectable, performed well in a Phase IIb study, although two deaths marred the overall results.
But Novartis’ oral drug Gilenya (fingolimod) is now on the market and two other oral MS treatments – Sanofi’s Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) and Teva’s laquinimod – are expected to be filed in the next year.
Adam Hill
Related Content
Exscientia enters AI drug discovery collaboration with Merck KGaA
Exscientia has announced a new collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, with a focus on …
Merck KGaA’s cancer drug Bavencio gets EU approval
The EC has approved Merck KGaA’s BAVENCIO (avelumab) as monotherapy for the first-line maintenance treatment …
Company veteran Belén Garijo named as Merck KGaA’s first-ever female CEO
German pharma firm Merck KGaA has taken the decision to appoint its first female Chief …
