Merck signs DNA licensing deal with Vertex
German pharmaceutical company Merck Group has granted US biotech firm Vertex a licence to two DNA-dependent protein kinases (DNA-PK) inhibitors.
The exclusive licence, announced in a press release on Thursday, January 24, allows the use of the inhibitors in gene-editing applications for six specific genetic diseases.
According to the release, pre-clinical trials have found that DNA-PK can enhance CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing tools.
The deal covers M9831, a clinical DNA-PK inhibitor, and another pre-clinical inhibitor.
Merck originally acquired the rights to the technology from Vertex, based in Boston, in 2017. The German company will retain a licence to the compounds for use in all other disease areas, including oncology.
“We are rapidly advancing our leading-edge DNA damage response 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,” said Belén Garijo, CEO of the healthcare division at Merck.
As part of the agreement, Merck will receive an upfront payment as well as milestone payments and royalties on future net sales.
Did you enjoy reading this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories sent like this straight to your inbox.
