Merck Grants Exclusive License to Vertex for Two DNA Damage Response Inhibitors

PR77211

DARMSTADT, Germany, January 25, 2019, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

      Not intended for UK- or US-based media

    - Exclusive license grants Vertex one clinical and one pre-clinical DNA-PK

inhibitor for use in gene-editing applications in six specific genetic disease

areas

    - Merck retains the rights to both compounds in all other disease areas,

Including oncology  

    - Merck retains the rights to utilize and license this technology in gene

editing outside of the six specified disease areas

    Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced that it

has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Incorporated, Boston, USA (NASDAQ: VRTX), for two DNA-dependent protein kinase

(DNA-PK) inhibitors - M9831 (formerly known as VX-984) and an additional

pre-clinical compound - in the field of gene editing for six specific genetic

disease indications. Merck will receive an upfront payment in addition to

milestones and royalties on future net sales and retains the rights to both

assets in all other disease areas, including oncology, with the ability to

develop both these compounds in-house, or to license them to future partners in

the gene editing field. Vertex has the option to add indications to the license

grant. Both molecules were acquired in a licensing agreement from Vertex in

2017, and are part of Merck's broad portfolio of DNA Damage Response (DDR)

inhibitors.

    "This transaction illustrates our determination to maximize value creation

from our pipeline," said Belen Garijo, Member of the Executive Board and CEO

Healthcare, Merck. "We are rapidly advancing our leading-edge DDR portfolio in

oncology and are delighted to see the potential benefit of DNA-PK in genetic

diseases through the enhancement of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing."

    Merck is investing significant resources into the promising area of DDR,

and has considerable expertise and experience in developing DDR molecules, with

the objective of becoming one of the leading players in this therapeutic area.

The company is currently investigating four DDR molecules, including two ATR

inhibitors, an ATM inhibitor and an investigational small-molecule of DNA-PK.

DNA-PK is a key enzyme that could potentially enhance the efficacy of many

commonly used DNA-damaging agents such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

    Pre-clinical studies have shown that DNA-PK inhibitors can enhance

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. CRISPR/Cas9 is a technology used to modify

genetic sequences and is being investigated for the treatment of various

genetic disorders. This collaboration licenses two compounds to study the

potential DNA-PK-inhibitor-mediated enhancement of gene editing for the

treatment of six genetic diseases included in the license grant to Vertex.

    About Vertex

    Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific

innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious and

life-threatening diseases. In addition to clinical development programs in CF,

Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing research programs focused on the

underlying mechanisms of other serious diseases.

    Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex's headquarters is now located

in Boston's Innovation District. Today, the company has research and

development sites and commercial offices in the United States, Europe, Canada,

Australia and Latin America. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the

industry's top places to work, including being named to Science magazine's Top

Employers in the life sciences ranking for nine years in a row.

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    About Merck

    Merck, a vibrant science and technology company, operates across

healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 51,000 employees

work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by

creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing

technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases

to enabling the intelligence of devices - Merck is everywhere. In 2017, Merck

generated sales of EUR 15.3 billion in 66 countries.

    Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to

Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived

since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of

the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name

and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the

business sectors operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life

science, and EMD Performance Materials. For more information about Merck visit

http://www.merckgroup.com.

    Contact:

    gangolf.schrimpf@merckgroup.com

    Phone: +49-6151-72-9591

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    Phone: +49-6151-72-3321

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SOURCE: Merck