MERCK
20.12.2021 14:02:06 CET | Business Wire | Press release
Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced a strategically focused expansion of its neurology pipeline with the acquisition of the rights to develop cladribine for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Merck entered into an agreement to secure the global rights by acquiring Chord Therapeutics, a Swiss-based biotech company focused on rare neuroinflammatory diseases.
“Cladribine has a unique mechanism of action which is relevant in antibody-mediated disease such as NMOSD and gMG. In exploratory studies, cladribine demonstrated promising results in these diseases. These data have prompted us to initiate further development with cladribine in gMG and NMOSD to potentially bring a new therapeutic option to patients and expand our portfolio in this area,” said Danny Bar-Zohar, MD, Head of Global Development for the biopharma business of Merck.
Cladribine is a well characterized molecule that has been extensively studied across MS and oncologic disorders and has shown promising results in exploratory studies in gMG and NMOSD. Merck plans to leverage its existing capabilities to further develop an oral cladribine product tailored specifically for these indications. The transaction is expected to be closed in early 2022 after satisfactory completion of customary closing conditions.
Generalized myasthenia gravis is a disease in which patients experience weakness in ocular, limb, and respiratory muscles and that has a significant impact on Quality of Life. It is estimated that 700,000 people around the world are living with gMG. NMOSD, also known as Devic´s disease, is an autoimmune disease, often misdiagnosed as MS due to similar symptoms. NMOSD is estimated to impact 200,000 people around the world.
About Chord Therapeutics
Chord Therapeutics is a Swiss-based clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing drugs for patients with rare, life-threatening and severely disabling diseases. Chord is advancing its lead drug candidate, CRD1 (cladribine), for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Chord Therapeutics was founded in 2014 and launched in October 2020 with Series A funding by its sole investor, Omega Funds, a leading international venture capital firm focused on delivering impactful medicines to patients.
Merck in Neurology and Immunology
Merck has a long-standing legacy in neurology and immunology, with significant R&D and commercial experience in multiple sclerosis (MS). The company`s current MS portfolio includes two products for the treatment of relapsing MS – Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) and MAVENCLAD® (cladribine tablets). Merck aims to improve the lives of patients by addressing areas of unmet medical needs. In addition to Merck`s commitment to MS, the company also has a pipeline focusing on discovering new therapies that have the potential in other neuroinflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.
About Merck
Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck generated sales of € 17.5 billion in 66 countries.
Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211220005062/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Klarna Delivers Strong Start to 2026 With $1Bn Revenue and $68M Adj. Operating Profit14.5.2026 13:30:00 CEST | Press release
Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, today reported first quarter 2026 results. GMV reached $33.7 billion (+33% YoY), revenue $1.0 billion (+44% YoY), transaction margin dollars $389 million (+44% YoY), and adjusted operating profit $68 million, up from $3 million a year ago. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260514241288/en/ "Klarna addresses the entire consumer wallet: Pay Now for everyday spending and saving, Pay Later our charge card equivalent at 0% interest for mid-size ticket spending, and POS installments (Fair Financing) for big-ticket purchases. In Q1 we executed well across all the business, driving every line of our P&L and compounding growth across our global network. Growing network. Same three products. Deeper consumer engagement.” Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO & Co-Founder, Klarna Q1 2026 Highlights GMV: $33.7 billion (+33% YoY); U.S. +39%, ex-U.S. +31% Revenue: $1.0 bil
SBC Medical Group Holdings Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results14.5.2026 12:30:00 CEST | Press release
SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (Nasdaq: SBC) (“SBC Medical” or the “Company”), a Medical Services Organization providing management support across a wide range of healthcare fields, today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2026. First Quarter 2026 Highlights Total revenues were $43 million, representing a 9% year-over-year decrease. Net income attributable to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated was $11 million, representing a 47% year-over-year decrease. Net income margin was 26% for the first quarter of 2026, representing a year-over-year decrease of 19 percentage points. Earnings per share, which is defined as net income attributable to the Company divided by the weighted average number of outstanding shares, was $0.11 for the three months ended March 31, 2026, representing a 48% year-over-year decrease. EBITDA1, which is calculated by adding depreciation and amortization expense to income from operations was $18 million, representing a
Compass Pathways to Participate in RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference on May 19-20, 202614.5.2026 12:30:00 CEST | Press release
Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, announced today that management will attend the RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference on May 19-20, 2026 and will participate in a fireside chat on May 19 at 10:00am ET. A live audio webcast of this event will be accessible from the “Events” page of the Investors section of the Compass website. A replay of the webcast will be accessible for 30 days following each event. About Compass Pathways Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. We are motivated by the need to find better ways to help and empower people with serious mental health conditions who are not helped by existing treatments. We are pioneering a new paradigm for treating mental health conditions focused on rapid and durable responses through the development of
FPT Strengthens Bavarian Presence with New Munich Office, Accelerating AI Transformation14.5.2026 11:13:00 CEST | Press release
Global technology corporation FPT officially cut the ribbon on its latest office in Germany. This milestone reinforces the company's long-term commitment to delivering AI-driven services to its growing customer base across Germany and the wider European market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260514689341/en/ The inauguration ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr Nguyen Dac Thanh, Ambassador of Vietnam to Germany, alongside representatives from the local government, FPT executives, and key partners. Situated in one of Europe’s most dynamic technological and manufacturing hubs, the Munich office strengthens FPT’s delivery capabilities and enables faster, more scalable engagement across the region. The move underscores the company’s strategic focus on investing in key innovation hubs to meet rising demand for AI transformation and accelerate time-to-value for clients. "Our expanded presence in Munich allows us to sta
Reply Launches Model Factory, the Production Line for Creating Industrial-Grade Generative AI Models14.5.2026 10:00:00 CEST | Press release
Reply [EXM, STAR: REY] announces Reply Model Factory, an industrial production line for buildingfrontier generative AI modelsgrounded in corporate knowledge and designed to power AI systems and agents aligned with each organisation’s operational context. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260514524231/en/ Reply Model Factory is an industrial production line for building frontier generative AI models grounded in corporate knowledge and designed to power AI systems and agents aligned with each organisation’s operational context. AI models are often built to operate across a wide range of tasks, drawing largely on public data. Enterprises, however, rely on internal knowledge: technical standards, regulatory requirements, operating procedures, proprietary systems and domain expertise. Reply Model Factory addresses this gap by enabling organisations to train models that understand their own context and operate consist
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom