Merck KGaA Signs Licensing Agreement with Debiopharm for Xevinapant

By Giulia Petroni

Merck KGaA said Monday that it has signed an in-licensing agreement with biopharmaceutical company Debiopharm for the development and commercialization of xevinapant.

The German pharmaceuticals and chemicals company said it will have exclusive development and commercialization rights, while Debiopharm will receive 188 million euros ($226.9 million) in upfront payments and up to EUR710 million in regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as royalty payments.

The transaction is expected to be closed early in the second quarter.

Xevinapant is an oral inhibitor of apoptosis proteins antagonist for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in combination with current standard of care, according to Merck KGaA. It is currently being investigated in the phase-III TrilynX study, which the companies will now co-fund.

Earlier this year, xevinapant received breakthrough therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Write to Giulia Petroni at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 01, 2021 06:28 ET (11:28 GMT)

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