Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Grants Exclusive License to Vertex for Two DNA Damage Response Inhibitors
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, which operates its healthcare business in the U.S. and Canada as EMD Serono, announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Boston, USA 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 KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany 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 the company's broad portfolio of DNA Damage Response (DDR) inhibitors.
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