2014年12月19日讯 /生物谷BIOON/ --默沙东（Merck & Co）近日宣布耗资3.75亿美元收购瑞士生物技术公司OncoEthix，此举是默沙东不断增强自身肿瘤学管线进军肿瘤药市场的又一举措。OncoEthix专门从事肿瘤学领域的新药研发，该领域是默沙东关注的几大重点增长领域之一。根据交易条款，默沙东将支付1.1亿美元前期付款，OncoEthix将有资格获得高达2.65亿美元的里程碑款项。
通过此次收购，默沙东获得了OncoEthix公司的实验性药物OTX015，该药是一种BET（布罗莫结构域）抑制剂，旨在通过靶向BET布罗莫结构域蛋白2/3/4触发癌细胞死亡。目前，OTX015正处于Ib期临床开发用于晚期实体瘤的治疗。BET抑制剂具有治疗广泛类型肿瘤的潜力。OTX015是一种首创BET抑制剂，具有阻断MYC蛋白的潜力，该蛋白负责调控促生长基因和细胞周期调节因子的转录。而阻断MYC这一方法已针对多种血液癌症表现出治疗潜力，包括急性髓性白血病、Burkitt淋巴瘤和多发性骨髓瘤。
目前，通过小型交易扩充管线资产已成为制药巨头加强重点研发领域惯用的伎俩。而默沙东正在围绕PD-1肿瘤免疫疗法Keytruda构筑资产，同时也正在寻找有潜力的新组合疗法。因此，OTX015非常切合默沙东的肿瘤学战略蓝图。
PD-1/PD-L1免疫疗法是当前备受瞩目的新一类抗癌免疫疗法，旨在利用人体自身的免疫系统抵御癌症，具有治疗多种类型肿瘤的潜力。目前PD-1/PD-L1免疫竞赛异常激烈，市值高达350亿美元，该领域的竞争已逐渐从黑色素瘤扩大至乳腺癌、肺癌、血液癌症。根据本月初公布的数据，默沙东Keytruda针对三阴乳腺癌和霍奇金淋巴瘤（HL）表现出了很好的治疗潜力。
另一方面，各大巨头也在纷纷开展合作，调查PD-1抑制剂与其他药物的组合疗法，以彻底发掘该类药物的最大临床潜力。上周，默沙东就与安进联手，计划调查肿瘤免疫鸡尾酒Keytruda/T-vec用于黑色素瘤的治疗。
其实早在2013年，默沙东就宣布了一项战略，将业务缩小至重点领域，包括急性住院治疗、疫苗和肿瘤学。该公司已明确表示，并不热衷于追求大规模收购，而是倾向于中小型收购，来加强该公司的研发管线及产品阵容。本月初，默沙东就耗资95亿美元收购抗生素巨头Cubist。默沙东表示，此举将使该公司在医院急诊护理领域创造一个更有利的地位，同时将解决关键领域未获满足的医疗需求，如抗生素耐药性。
英文原文：Merck Acquires OncoEthix, a Privately Held Oncology Company Developing Novel BET Inhibitors for Hematological and Solid Cancers
Acquisition Expands Merck’s Oncology Portfolio with Novel Oral BET Inhibitor, OTX015
Merck (MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that it has acquired, through a subsidiary, OncoEthix, a Swiss-based privately held biotechnology company specializing in oncology drug development. Through the acquisition, Merck has gained an investigational, novel oral BET (bromodomain) inhibitor, OTX015, which is currently in Phase 1b studies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and advanced solid tumors.
“Oncology is a priority area of focus for Merck and the acquisition of OncoEthix supports our strategy to prioritize the development of innovative molecules with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced cancers,” said Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “The potential first-in-class oral BET inhibitor, OTX015, has demonstrated early promising activity in hematological cancers and strategically complements our broad immuno-oncology development program.”
“We are delighted that OTX015 will now be in the hands of Merck, a company with a successful track record of developing cutting-edge therapies,” said Bertrand Damour, chief executive officer, OncoEthix. “The acquisition underlines the promise that OTX015 has shown in the treatment of hematological malignancies, and the potential it has for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. We are confident that our transaction with Merck best positions OTX015 to be developed to its full potential in areas of high unmet medical need.”
BET proteins are considered potential therapeutic targets in cancer, as they play a pivotal role in regulating the transcription of key regulators of cancer cell growth and survival, including c-Myc. Interim data from ongoing Phase I clinical studies of OTX015 have demonstrated meaningful clinical activity in patients with hematological malignancies. Interim data were recently presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April 2014. An international, open-label Phase 1 study evaluating OTX015 in five different solid tumors was initiated in November 2014.
Financial terms of the acquisition include an upfront payment of up to $110 million to OncoEthix. Additional milestone payments of up to $265 million are contingent upon certain clinical and regulatory events being achieved.
About OncoEthix
Founded in 2009, OncoEthix is a Swiss-based privately held biotechnology company aiming to develop a small portfolio of oncology drug candidates. The Company’s lead product, OTX015, is an investigational orally administered synthetic small molecule targeted to BET bromodomain proteins 2/3/4. OTX015 was in-licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation in March 2012 following completion of Phase I clinical studies in healthy volunteers.
OncoEthix has raised a total of US$30 million in venture capital to date: investors include Index Ventures, SV Life Sciences, Endeavour Vision and Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners. For more information please see: www.oncoethix.com.