Merck enhances its pipeline with the acquisition of CN201, a next-generation CD3xCD19 bispecific antibody, targeting B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
Merck has entered into a definitive agreement with Curon Biopharmaceutical, a privately-owned biotech company, to acquire CN201, an innovative clinical-stage bispecific antibody aimed at treating B-cell-related diseases. The acquisition is being made through a Merck subsidiary.
According to the terms of the agreement, Merck will gain full global rights to CN201 in exchange for an upfront cash payment of $700 million. Additionally, Curon stands to receive up to $600 million in milestone payments tied to the successful development and regulatory approval of CN201.
CN201 is currently undergoing evaluation in Phase 1 and Phase 1b/2 clinical trials for patients suffering from relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), respectively. Initial results indicate that CN201 is effective in treating patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell hematologic malignancies and is generally well-tolerated, with the ability to induce substantial and lasting reductions in B-cell populations. Merck intends to further explore CN201 as a treatment for B-cell malignancies and to investigate its potential as a novel, scalable therapy for autoimmune diseases.
CN201 is a cutting-edge bispecific antibody, engineered to target B cells for elimination by engaging T cells through its CD3xCD19 mechanism. This next-generation therapy is being tested in clinical trials for its efficacy in treating challenging cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and acute lymphocytic leukemia that have not responded to prior treatments.
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