Merck, Inspirna join forces to develop first-in-class oral cancer inhibitor

Merck, Inspirna join forces to develop first-in-class oral cancer inhibitor

Merck, a renowned science and technology company, has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to combat cancer. The company announced a strategic licensing agreement with New York-based Inspirna, Inc. for the development of ompenaclid, a first-in-class oral inhibitor targeting the creatine transport channel SLC6A8, and its follow-on compounds. Ompenaclid, which is currently undergoing a […]

Moderna, Merck announce promising results for mRNA-4157 and Keytruda in melanoma

Moderna, Merck announce promising results for mRNA-4157 and Keytruda in melanoma

Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) and Merck (NYSE: MRK), also known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today revealed follow-up data from their collaborative Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 study. This clinical trial evaluates mRNA-4157 (V940), an innovative individualized neoantigen therapy (INT), in combination with KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, for patients with resected high-risk melanoma (stage […]

Merck to acquire Caraway Therapeutics in $610m deal for neurodegenerative disease treatments

Merck to acquire Caraway Therapeutics in $610m deal for neurodegenerative disease treatments

Merck and Caraway Therapeutics, Inc. have announced a definitive agreement in which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire Caraway Therapeutics. The total potential consideration for the acquisition is up to $610 million, including an undisclosed upfront payment and contingent milestone payments. Expanding Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases This acquisition aligns with Merck’s commitment to enhancing its […]

Merck strikes €1.4bn deal with Hengrui Pharmaceuticals for next-gen oncology treatments

Merck strikes €1.4bn deal with Hengrui Pharmaceuticals for next-gen oncology treatments

In a major advancement in cancer treatment, Merck, a frontrunner in science and technology, has declared a strategic collaboration with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. This significant partnership focuses on an exclusive license globally (excluding China) to advance, produce, and market Hengrui’s novel and potent PARP1 (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1) trapping inhibitor, HRS-1167. Furthermore, the […]

Merck launches Phase 3 CORALreef program for PCSK9 inhibitor MK-0616

Merck launches Phase 3 CORALreef program for PCSK9 inhibitor MK-0616

Pharmaceutical giant Merck has announced the initiation of its groundbreaking Phase 3 clinical program, CORALreef, focusing on MK-0616—a novel, oral proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor. MK-0616 is being evaluated for the treatment of adults suffering from hypercholesterolemia. The CORALreef program marks a historic milestone as the first Phase 3 clinical program for an […]

Merck’s WELIREG meets primary endpoint of PFS in Phase 3 RCC trial

Merck’s WELIREG meets primary endpoint of PFS in Phase 3 RCC trial

Global pharmaceutical leader Merck has announced that WELIREG (belzutifan), its pioneering oral HIF-2α inhibitor, has achieved a critical milestone in its Phase 3 trial LITESPARK-005. The trial, conducted on adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that progressed following PD-1/L1 checkpoint inhibitor and VEGF-TKI therapies, met its primary endpoint by demonstrating a statistically significant […]

CHMP endorses Merck’s gefapixant for EU approval for chronic cough treatment

CHMP endorses Merck’s gefapixant for EU approval for chronic cough treatment

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval for gefapixant, an investigational, non-narcotic, oral selective P2X3 receptor antagonist from Merck, also known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. The drug is being developed for adults with refractory or unexplained chronic cough. The European Commission (EC) […]

ENB Therapeutics completes Phase 1 trial enrollment for ENB-003

ENB Therapeutics completes Phase 1 trial enrollment for ENB-003

ENB Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm working on therapeutics targeting the endothelin B receptor (ETBR), announced the completion of its international Phase 1 ENBOLDEN-101 trial enrollment. The trial aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of ENB-003, the company’s lead product, in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab). This Phase 1/2a study is an open-label, […]

Endo International introduces Noxafil generic version in US

Endo International introduces Noxafil generic version in US

Endo International has revealed that its Par Sterile Products division is now shipping posaconazole injection (18 mg/mL) in the United States. This marks the first generic version of Merck’s Noxafil, following the final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application. Posaconazole injection is prescribed for the prevention […]

Merck to acquire biotech company Prometheus Biosciences for $10.8bn

Merck to acquire biotech company Prometheus Biosciences for $10.8bn

Merck has agreed to acquire Prometheus Biosciences, a Nasdaq-listed clinical-stage biotechnology company, in an all-cash deal worth around $10.8 billion, in a move to bolster its immunology pipeline. The California-based Prometheus Biosciences is engaged in the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutic and companion diagnostic products for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases by using a […]