GSK fortalece en cáncer...con Merck KGaA

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U.K.-based GlaxoSmithKline  and Germany-based Merck KGaA  are entering a partnership to develop and commercialize a therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a deal worth up to $4.23 billion, the companies announced Tuesday.

The therapy, dubbed M7824, is a bifunctional antibody designed to simultaneously target two pathways in the body that act as immune checkpoints: one that involves a protein called transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-B) and another involving a protein called programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). A subset of patients with advanced NSCLC produce too much TGF-B and PD-L1, which can lead to tumor cell growth.

Under the terms of the deal, Merck KGaA will receive an upfront payment of €300 million and will be eligible for potential development milestone payments of up to €500 million. Merck KGaA will also be eligible for further payments upon approval and commercial milestones of up to €2.9 billion for a potential total deal value up to €3.7 billion.

Merck KGaA wins GSK...

Both GSK and Merck KGaA will be involved in development and commercialization and all profits and costs will be shared equally, the companies said.

“M7824 brings together two different biological functions in a single molecule and we have observed encouraging clinical results in treating certain cancer patients,” said Hal Barron, GSK’s chief scientific officer and president of research and development. “I’m excited by the potential impact this first-in-class immunotherapy could have on the lives of cancer patients.”

M7824 is currently in Phase 1 studies for the treatment of solid tumors, as well as a randomized Phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of M7824 compared with pembrolizumab for treatment for patients with NSCLC whose tumors are producing too much PD-L1. 
Pembrolizumab is the generic name for Merck & Co. Inc.’s MRK, +0.31% blockbuster oncology drug Keytruda, which brought in an eye-opening $2.15 billion in the fourth quarter — nearly 20% of the company’s total revenue. 

Ver:
Todo sobre Keytruda en PHARMACOSERÍAS

The partnership is another step in the development of GSK’s oncology-focused pipeline. In December, the company acquired Tesaro, an oncology-focused company based in Waltham, Mass., in a $4.16 billion cash deal.

Ver:

GSK compra Tesaro por 4.500 millones para reforzarar su oferta en oncológia.

Shares of GSK were up 1.6% in London.

The deal “helps crystallize the value of an underappreciated asset by bringing on board a credible partner,” AB Bernstein analyst Wimal Kapadia wrote in a note to investors Tuesday morning. He called M7824 an “interesting drug, designed on solid science.”

“GSK clearly emerged as the ideal partner due to their strong commitment to oncology, and the complementary talent and capabilities they will bring to our alliance," said Belén Garijo, CEO of Merck KGaA’s health care segment.

Shares of GSK have gained 17% in the year to date, while shares of Merck KGaA have gained 13%.
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