Actelion Ltd and Merck & Co., Inc., have announced that they have formed an exclusive worldwide alliance to discover, develop and market new classes of renin inhibitors.
This alliance will enable Actelion and Merck to combine their discovery, development and marketing capabilities with the goal to efficiently provide innovative and better medicines to patients suffering from cardio-renal diseases.
Through the formation of a joint committee, the parties will collaborate on the development of products. Both parties, with Merck fully responsible to fund pivotal Phase III and outcome studies, will initially share development funding. Merck will lead and fund commercialization. Actelion retains a worldwide option to co-promote any product resulting from this alliance as a paid-for sales force.
Merck will pay Actelion an upfront payment of USD 10 million. In addition, Actelion will be eligible to receive research, development and approval milestone payments of up to USD 262 million for the successful -commercialization of the first collaboration product. Actelion will also be eligible to receive certain milestone payments for the successful commercialization of additional products. Merck will pay Actelion substantial royalties on the sale of all products resulting from this renin inhibitor alliance.
Alliance to maximize scientific breakthrough in renin inhibitor classes Actelion's innovative research has resulted in breakthroughs in multiple classes of novel renin inhibitors with excellent oral availability. These highly potent oral renin inhibitors potentially represent the most promising new avenue for significant treatment advances in essential hypertension and other major cardio-renal diseases.
Jean-Paul Clozel, MD and CEO of Actelion, commented: "Actelion has made a breakthrough that might significantly improve treatment for patients suffering from serious cardio-renal diseases. We are partnering this program with the best possible partner, Merck & Co. They are an undisputed leader in advancing cardiovascular medicine."
Jean-Paul Clozel continued: "Merck & Co. shares our commitment to science and innovation and to bringing breakthrough products to patients in areas with high unmet medical need. Also, Actelion and Merck strongly believe that any partnership must benefit all parties involved; the two companies and the medical and patient communities at large. This alliance will have access to the necessary know-how, resources and marketing power. Together, Actelion and Merck will work to rapidly transform innovative science into beneficial medicine."
"We are extremely enthusiastic about our collaboration with Actelion" said Peter Kim PhD., president of Merck Research Laboratories. "Capitalizing on Actelion's innovative research in the area of renin inhibition and Merck's strong expertise in the development and commercialization of medicines for hypertension, we have formed a dynamic partnership. We look forward to working with Actelion toward the goal of providing novel treatments to patients."
Mervyn Turner, PhD, sr. vice president worldwide licensing and external research for Merck adds: "This important relationship with Actelion is another indicator of Merck's determination to work with the best of Biotech in constructive ways to strengthen our potential for bringing breakthrough medicines to patients in need."