Idera regains global rights to IMO-2055 from Merck KGaA for treatment of cancer
April 14, 2017
A Phase 1 trial of IMO-2055 in combination with Erbitux, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil for the first-line treatment of SCCHN. In this trial, treatment with IMO-2055 plus cisplatin/5-fluorouracil and Erbitux was associated with increased neutropenia and electrolyte imbalances as compared to a clinical trial of cisplatin/5-fluorouracil and Erbitux (Vermorken J, et al. NEJM 2008; 359:1116). This study was terminated by Merck KGaA. A Phase 1 trial in healthy subjects to evaluate safety and dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of IMO-2055 after three weekly doses by subcutaneous or intravenous administration.
Idera Pharmaceuticals entered into its worldwide licensing and collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in December 2007 for the research, development and commercialization of Idera's Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists, including IMO-2055, for the potential treatment of certain cancers, excluding cancer vaccines. As part of the agreement between Idera and Merck KGaA as to the termination of the collaboration, Idera has regained all rights for developing TLR9 agonists for the treatment of cancer, including all rights to IMO-2055 and any follow-on TLR9 agonists, and rights to data created under and during the collaboration. Merck KGaA has decided to complete the ongoing Phase 2 trial of IMO-2055 in SCCHN. Idera has agreed to reimburse approximately ?‚¬1.8 million of Merck KGaA's expenses during the course of the ongoing Phase 2 trial, which the Company expects to pay over the course of approximately twelve months starting in March 2012. Idera has also agreed to pay to Merck KGaA milestone payments of ?‚¬1 million each upon entering into any future partnership for IMO-2055, upon initiating the next clinical trial of IMO-2055 that is a Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trial, and upon the regulatory submission of IMO-2055 in any country.
Source: Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.