Idera is pocketing a $40 million up front fee from Merck KGaA [1] and hopes to make an additional $381 million in milestones from licensing its technology for cancer therapies. The German Merck gains exclusive rights to Idera's two most advanced Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists for cancer--IMO-2055 and IMO-2125--for all uses with the exception of cancer vaccines [2]. These Toll-like receptors are sentinels for chemicals in pathogens for cancer, infectious diseases, respiratory and autoimmune disorders. IMO-2055 has been involved in Phase I studies for solid tumors that have been unresponsive to standard therapy. Shares of Idera surged on the news.
- see the release [3]
- here's the AP's report [4] on the deal
Related Articles:
Idera inks $455M pact for Merck vaccines. Report [5]
Merck KGaA CEO eyes new acquisitions. Report [1]
Mylan inks $6.6B deal for Merck's generic drug biz. Report [6]
Merck KGaA buying control of Serono. Report [7]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/merck-kgaa-ceo-eyes-new-acquisitions/2007-09-19
[2] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/big-pharma-takes-interest-cancer-vaccines/2007-09-19
[3] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/press-release-idera-pharmaceuticals-and-merck-forge-400-million-cancer-drug-deal
[4] http://www.euro2day.gr/articlesfna/52007303/
[5] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/idera-inks-455m-pact-for-merck-vaccines/2006-12-11
[6] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/mylan-inks-6.6b-deal-for-merck-s-generic-drug-biz/2007-05-14
[7] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/merck-kgaa-buying-control-of-serono/2006-09-21