Galapagos Expands Strategic Alliance With Merck’ Affiliate

Galapagos has expanded its global strategic alliance in metabolic diseases with Merck &amp, an affiliate of Merck & Co., to incorporate the development of new therapies for atherosclerosis. Galapagos will be responsible for the discovery and pre-clinical development of new small molecule candidate drugs based on novel Galapagos targets.

Reportedly, the alliance will make use of Galapagos’ proprietary target discovery platform for identification of novel targets in atherosclerosis, as well as in obesity and diabetes. After validation, targets will be selected by a joint steering committee and entered into screening and chemistry by Galapagos.

Morover, Merck will have an exclusive option to license in each candidate for clinical development and commercialisation on a worldwide basis. Upon exercise of such option, Merck will be responsible for the development and commercialisation of the candidate drug.

However, the company said that Galapagos may execute phase I clinical studies and will have the right to further develop and commercialise certain compounds for which Merck does not exercise its exclusive option.

In January 2009, Galapagos announced an alliance with Merck in diabetes and obesity, with milestone payments with the potential to exceed E170m. Under the terms of this expanded agreement, that now includes small molecule candidate drugs for pre-clinical development in atherosclerosis, Galapagos is eligible to receive research, regulatory and sales milestone payments that may total in excess of E400m.

In addition Galapagos is eligible to receive royalties upon commercialisation of any products covered under the agreement.

Catherine Strader, vice president of external basic research at Merck Research Laboratories, said: “Merck’s extended collaboration with Galapagos underscores our ongoing commitment to identifying novel therapeutic targets for fighting cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.”