Merck signs Theravance cardio deal
pharmafile | October 19, 2012 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Merck, Theravance, cardiovascular
Merck has signed a deal with US biopharma firm Theravance to discover and develop novel small molecules to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD).
For a $5 million upfront payment, Merck receives a worldwide, exclusive licence to Theravance’s therapeutic candidates, and may be in line to pay a further $148 million in milestones and royalties.
CVD encompasses a range of diseases, including hypertension and heart failure, affecting the heart and blood vessels and leading to illness and death.
In fact, this disease area is the world’s leading cause of death and disability. But Mathai Mammen, senior vice president of research and early clinical development at Theravance, said: “Despite years of medical advances, there remain significant unmet medical needs in the management of cardiovascular disease.”
Theravance says it has gained ‘significant insights’ into the design of novel molecules directed towards certain cardiovascular targets over the last few years.
“Merck remains committed to the discovery and development of new therapies for CVD,” said Michael Mendelsohn, senior vice president, cardiovascular research at Merck.
Like many pharma companies, it is also in need of new revenue streams: in August it lost patent protection on its biggest-selling drug Singulair, a highly successful allergy treatment, opening the floodgates for generic rivals.
Merck has been busy spending time and money on other collaborations, but its recent activities highlight the fact that not all of these work out.
It recently paid €110 million for access to AiCuris’ portfolio of investigational medicines targeting human cytomegalovirus – while at much the same time handing back all marketing and development rights for Cardiome’s atrial fibrillation drug vernakalant.
Theravance concentrates on developing small molecule medicines in therapy areas including respiratory disease, bacterial infections, central nervous system and pain management.
The company is also no stranger to big pharma deals: with GlaxoSmithKline it has submitted investigational COPD drug Breo (Relvar in Europe) to the FDA and European authorities this year.
Adam Hill
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