Merck will develop and commercialize Cubicin through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Banyu Pharmaceutical. In exchange for development and commercialization rights in Japan, Merck will pay Cubist $6 million cash upfront.
An additional $39.5 million in total milestone payments could be paid to Cubist for regulatory and sales achievements. Merck will also pay Cubist an undisclosed price for the supply of Cubicin vials to be sold in Japan.
“MRSA is a serious concern in Japan. Cubicin will provide a much needed additional therapy for serious infections, including those caused by MRSA,” said Mike Bonney, president and CEO of Cubist.