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
Dompé Doses First Patient in Phase 3 Study of Cenegermin-bkbj in NAION14.7.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve which causes spontaneous and rapid vision loss, for which there are currently no FDA-approved treatments. Given the substantial unmet need for effective treatments in NAION, in October 2025, Dompé was awarded a Commissioner’s National Priority Review Voucher (CNPV) by the US FDA to accelerate a potential Biologics License Application for intranasal nerve growth factor (NGF) in NAION. Dompé, a biopharmaceutical company with operations in Italy and the US, announced the first patient has been enrolled in a Phase 3 study of cenegermin-bkbj for the treatment of non-arteritic anterior ischemic neuropathy (NAION). Involving more than 130 centers globally, the Phase 3 trial, “Galassia-NAION-301” is a multicenter, double-blind study comparing cenegermin-bkbj against placebo in improving vision loss caused by NAION. “Our NGF R&D program continues to accelerate with our third clinical study of 202
CE-IVDR Mark for Hologic’s Aptima® HPV Test Expanded to Include Self-Collected Sample Claim in Cervical Cancer Screening14.7.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
New indication in the European Union and the UK offers alternative method of screening especially for women who are not currently participating Hologic, Inc. announced today that its Aptima® HPV Assay received an expanded CE-IVDR marking in the European Union and the UK and is now approved for self-collected vaginal samples using the Aptima Multitest Specimen Collection Kit. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260714358586/en/ Hologic’s Aptima® HPV Assay and Aptima Multitest Specimen Collection Kit Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women but is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening.1 Evidence shows that organized screening and early detection reduces deaths from cervical cancer, with mortality reduction rates in Europe ranging from 41% to 92%.2 However, even in countries with an established cervical screening program, screening participation rates vary widely, from 25%
Cover Genius Raises USD $100M Backed by Vista Credit Partners, Reaching USD $1.9 Billion Valuation as it Advances AI-First Platform and Global Expansion14.7.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
Accelerating the AI roadmap and next era of embedded protection Cover Genius, the global infrastructure for embedded protection, today announced a USD $100M capital raise, backed by Vista Credit Partners, a subsidiary of Vista Equity Partners and strategic financing partner focused on enterprise software. The raise values the business at USD $1.9 billion, advancing a new chapter for the company. Cover Genius operates a B2B2C embedded protection platform that connects 200+ partners with 50+ global insurance carriers to protect over 70 million end customers at the point of sale across travel, retail, ticketing and logistics. Unlike traditional insurers, Cover Genius dynamically adapts product design, pricing, and presentation in real time to match each merchant's unique customer journey and geography mix. “We’ve spent more than a decade building the trust layer the world’s largest digital companies rely on to protect their customers. Today’s raise is about broadening possibilities: movin
Esri to Debut the Power of Where Collection at 2026 Esri User Conference14.7.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
New Titles Expand on Landmark Work to Showcase How GIS Drives Better Decisions Across Water and Land Management Esri will debut the Power of Where Collection at the 2026 Esri User Conference. The collection builds on the 2024 book The Power of Where by Jack Dangermond, extending its ideas into real-world GIS applications. New titles in the collection highlight GIS uses in water forecasting, land records, infrastructure planning, and economic development. The series demonstrates how spatial analysis helps organizations address challenges including sustainability, climate resilience, and governance. Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, will debut the Power of Where Collection at the 2026 Esri User Conference in July. The collection builds on the ideas introduced in The Power of Where: A Geographic Approach to the World's Greatest Challenges, by Esri president Jack Dangermond, published in 2024. The new collection expands these foundational concepts into focused, real-world a
Esri Introduces ArcGIS for ServiceNow, Bringing Location Intelligence into Everyday Enterprise Workflows14.7.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
New Integration Connects Platforms, Enabling Real-Time Mapping Directly Within Existing Systems Esri is launching ArcGIS for ServiceNow, an integration that connects ServiceNow, the AI control tower for business reinvention, with ArcGIS, bringing location intelligence into everyday enterprise workflows. The solution supports organizations across commercial, government, health care, utilities, energy, telecom, and other sectors. Users can visualize incidents, assets, work orders, facilities, and other business data on maps in real time within ServiceNow or ArcGIS, improving decision-making and operational efficiency. The integration eliminates data duplication by enabling seamless data sharing between systems, bridging business records with geographic context. ArcGIS for ServiceNow will debut in beta shortly after Esri User Conference. Esri, the global leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, has announced ArcGIS for ServiceNow, connecting the two platforms for the firs
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