Merck KGaA is exercising its option for a global license to commercialize Abbisko Therapeutics Co. Ltd.’s pimicotinib for $85 million. As previously reported by BioWorld, Abbisko out-licensed China rights to its colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor, pimicotinib, to Merck in a deal worth up to $605.5 million in December 2023.
Merck KGaA has patented substituted bicyclic transcriptional coactivator YAP1/transcriptional enhancer factor (TEAD) and/or TAZ/TED interaction inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Inbrain Neuroelectronics SL closed a $50 million series B financing round to advance clinical trials for its graphene-based brain-computer interface therapeutics platform. The company also secured additional funding from Merck KGaA GmbH which will go towards developing the technology for application across both central and peripheral nervous systems.
Distinguishing between contract law and patent law, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled against a Merck KGaA subsidiary, saying Ares Trading SA is still on the hook for paying royalties to a research partner through 2027 on sales of its cancer drug Bavencio (avelumab), a PD-L1 inhibitor granted accelerated approval in 2017 as a treatment for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.
Merck KGaA has announced it is advancing M-3554, a potential first-in-class anti-GD2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), toward the clinic. M-3554 links an exatecan payload with an anti-GD2 antibody.
Milleporesigma, Merck KGaA’s North American life sciences business, agreed to acquire Mirus Bio LLC from Gamma Biosciences LP for $600 million. Mirus develops tailored transfection solutions that deliver nucleic acid into cells used in production of viral vector-based gene therapies. It also provides contract development and manufacturing services. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to U.S. regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
M-9140 (Merck KGaA) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that carries a DNA topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitor payload plus an antibody directed against carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5). CEACAM5 is a cell surface protein that is overexpressed in colorectal cancer and other solid tumors.
Caris Discovery, the therapeutic research arm of Caris Life Sciences Inc., has established a multiyear strategic partnership with Merck KGaA to accelerate the discovery and development of first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates for cancer patients.
As investment in Asia biohubs continues into 2024, Merck KGaA’s Milliporesigma is the latest to drop more than €300 million (US$328 million) into a new bioprocessing production center in Daejeon, South Korea.
