Actelion Ltd announced that the rennin alliance with Merck and Co. Inc., has achieved its third milestone. The alliance has entered into man its first compound, a new rennin inhibitor. This start of full clinical development triggers a milestone payment by Merck to Actelion of USD 7 million.
Actelion and Merck formed an exclusive worldwide alliance in December 2003, to discover, develop and market new classes of orally available rennin inhibitors for patients suffering from cardio-renal diseases.
Through a joint committee, the parties are collaborating on the development of products. R&D funding initially will be the responsibility of Actelion. The two companies will jointly fund Phase II development. Merck responsible for funding all Phase III and outcome studies, 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.
Upon signing, Actelion received USD 10 million. Actelion is also eligible to receive significant research, development and approval milestone payments of up to USD 262 million, for the successful commercialization of the first collaboration product.
A first milestone of USD 15 million was achieved in March 2004 with the completion of the technology transfer, which provided Merck with unrestricted access to Actelion's multiple rennin inhibitor classes. A second milestone was achieved in March 2005 when the first compound was selected for full preclinical development.
Actelion will also be eligible to receive certain milestone payments for the successful commercialization of additional products, and Merck will pay Actelion substantial royalties on the sale of all products resulting from this rennin inhibitor alliance.
Rennin plays a key role in the regulation of blood volume, arterial pressure, and cardiac and vascular function by serving as an early component of the rennin-angiotensin system.
Rennin is an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of the hormone angiotensin I, which is transformed by the Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) to Angiotensin II. Angiotensin II acts on specific receptors to increase blood pressure and modulate long-term processes such as arteriosclerosis and remodelling of heart and kidney. Therapeutic manipulation of the rennin-angiotensin pathway has become very important in treating hypertension and heart failure.
Rennin inhibition is the most recent pharmacological approach for the treatment of hypertension and, potentially, renal failure, and vascular diseases. Actelion has made substantial progress in identifying potent renin inhibitors.