MERZ-THERAPEUTICS
11.8.2021 10:02:13 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
wMerz Therapeutics, a business of the Merz Group and a leader in the field of neurotoxins, and the Israeli start-up Vensica Therapeutics Ltd., a urology company, announced today that they have entered into a strategic license and collaboration agreement for the delivery of botulinum neurotoxin A (Xeomin®) ) to the bladder wall by using Vensica’s innovative ultrasound-assisted delivery catheter. By this, Merz Therapeutics becomes the exclusive toxin supplier of any needleless application for urological indications, such as overactive bladder, neurogenic bladder and interstitial cystitis and other urology indications.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210811005052/en/
Stefan Brinkmann, CEO Merz Therapeutics: “This strategic, long-term partnership with the Israeli Start-up Vensica allows us to expand into the attractive market of overactive bladder. It perfectly reflects the potential and capabilities of our neurotoxin platform for the development of sizeable non-movement disorder indications, pursuing our promise to create better outcomes for more patients. We strongly believe in the innovative and less invasive treatment of bladder diseases using Vensica’s ultrasound-assisted delivery catheter and are therefore looking forward to bringing this new treatment option to the patients together with our partner Vensica.”
Vensica CEO, Avner Geva commented, “We are very excited about our strategic partnership with Merz. By licensing Merz’s Botulinum Toxin A, Xeomin® , we’ve achieved an important milestone in our journey to changing the lives of urological patients. We hope that together with Merz, we will be able to provide, needle-less and minimal invasive procedures to over 85 million patients around the world, enabling them to benefit from a minimal discomfort, anesthesia-free, outpatient experience. The partnership with Merz, which includes not only exclusive licensing of Xeomin® , but also development support, enables us to accelerate our clinical trials and regulatory process. We are thrilled Merz realized the potential and need and chose to invest in innovative medical technologies that can benefit patients worldwide.”
“The collaboration with Vensica is a great example for our Merz Corporate Venture Capital Initiative,” states Jörg Bergler, COO Merz Group. “Here, we are investing globally in companies who are pursuing innovative, breakthrough science. As an experienced partner, we are not only granting Vensica access to our toxin but also offer know-how and experience for the development and preparation of the regulatory approval process in an advisory capacity."
The long-term partnership includes Merz’s intention to participate and invest in Vensica. Under the terms of the agreement, Merz already received, in addition to royalties, equity shares from Vensica with the option for further investment in the upcoming years and will be represented with a seat in the Board of Directors. Vensica will be responsible for the pre-clinical and clinical development of the needleless device and will prepare and file the marketing approval application. Upon the marketing approval, Merz will be responsible for the manufacturing and supply of Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA) and Vensica will manage commercial activities worldwide, except of Japan.
Vensica’s proprietary ultrasound-assisted drug delivery system is an innovative minimally invasive solution to urology. The system enables needleless delivery of drugs to the bladder wall in a simple and quick procedure. The platform drives treatment from the surgical center to the private clinics, as it removes the need for a highly trained urologist, staff, and anesthesia. The unique delivery profile enables uniform delivery of the neurotoxin to greater area of the bladder wall, which may increase its efficacy, such as earlier onset and longer effect. The device is at clinical development stage by Vensica Therapeutics an Israeli based company.
Xeomin® is being distributed by Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH in more than 70 countries to treat patients with upper and lower limb spasticity, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm or hypersalivation. Merz uses state-of-the-art technology in its dedicated facility in Dessau, Germany, meeting the highest international standards for biologic manufacturing. The highly purified neurotoxin, the only active ingredient in Xeomin® , is made by removing complexing proteins from botulinum toxin type A, which is produced by Clostridium botulinum, using purification technology developed by Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA. The lack of complexing proteins enables Xeomin® to reduce the production of neutralizing antibodies capable of lowering efficacy.
About Merz Therapeutics
Merz Therapeutics, a business of Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, is dedicated to improving the lives of patients around the world. With its relentless research, development, and culture of innovation, Merz Therapeutics strives to serve unmet patient needs and realize better outcomes. Merz Therapeutics seeks to address the unique needs of people who suffer from movement disorders, neurological conditions, liver disease, and other health conditions that severely impact patients’ quality of life. Merz Therapeutics is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany and is represented in more than 90 countries, with a North America affiliate based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH is part of the Merz Group, a privately held, family-owned company that has dedicated more than 110 years to developing innovations that meet patient and customer needs.
About Vensica Therapeutics Ltd.
Vensica is a urology therapeutics company based out of Israel. The company is developing a unique platform for drug delivery for several urinary bladder indications, based on a proprietary ultrasound-assisted drug delivery system. The company was founded in 2015 by Avner Geva, (Yale, B.Sc, Technion, M.Sc) and is led and backed by medical and therapeutic’s leaders, including chairman M.D., Ph.D, Nissim Darvish, Lew Pell, Laborie and The Trendlines Group.
About Merz
Merz Group is a global, diversified company based in Frankfurt, Germany, with the three businesses Merz Aesthetics, Merz Therapeutics and Merz Consumer Care. The company is family-owned for over 112 years and is distinguished by its commitment to innovation, long-term perspective, and focus on profitable growth. In fiscal year 2019/20 (June 30), Merz generated revenue of EUR 981.5 million. The company employs 3,212 people in 28 countries worldwide. To learn more, please visit www.merz.com .
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210811005052/en/
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
HPE Takes Licence to Patents Offered Through the Sisvel Wi-Fi Multimode Pool8.4.2026 10:00:00 CEST | Press release
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has become the latest company to take a licence to the patents offered through the recently launched Sisvel Wi-Fi Multimode pool. It joins Sony Group Corporation, Huawei, Panasonic, Philips and ZTE as a licensee of the programme. The latter four are also licensors, along with KPN, Mitsubishi Electric, Orange, Aegis 11 SA (a Sisvel affiliate), SK Telecom and Wilus. HPE is a major presence in the global WLAN market and is a leading manufacturer of both consumer and enterprise routers. The deal with Sisvel was reached on an amicable basis. The Sisvel Wi-Fi Multimode pool is the successor programme to the Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 patent pool. Over a three-year period, this closed agreements with nearly 40 companies, including Acer, Netgear, Cisco and HP. Covering Wi-Fi 7 as well as 6, the Multimode programme offers an efficient way to access essential Wi-Fi rights for years to come. “We are delighted to welcome Hewlett Packard Enterprise as the latest licensee of the
Zyxel and Openreach Team Up to Reduce Plastic Waste in Full Fibre Installations8.4.2026 10:00:00 CEST | Press release
A new partnership between Zyxel Communications and Openreach is helping to cut plastic and packaging waste from the UK’s Full Fibre rollout - by deploying re-cycled ‘modems’ to connect customers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408766604/en/ Openreach - GPON ONT Zyxel is deploying a range of new Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) - the wall-mounted box of electronics that converts optical signals into electrical ones used by household devices - with re-engineered casings made from 95 per cent recycled plastic.1 Openreach engineers have already installed half a million of Zyxel’s sustainable ONTs and the network provider expects to install even more this year as customers upgrade to Full Fibre - the UK’s most reliable broadband technology. The GPON2 devices use recycled plastic in their construction and arrive in zero‑plastic minimal packaging made from recycled materials. Openreach is working with Zyxel and o
Jeito Capital Hits Record $1.2 Billion (€1 Billion)1 Close for Jeito II Fund to Drive Breakthrough Therapeutic Innovation for Patients8.4.2026 08:15:00 CEST | Press release
This record closing is the largest raise ever achieved by a fully independent European fund dedicated to Biopharma, validating Jeito’s patient-driven investment strategy, its multidisciplinary, collaborative expertise spanning from science to commercialization of medicines, and value creationIn five years, Jeito Capital has tripled its assets under management to €1.6 billion, firmly establishing itself among the top-tier global Biopharma investorsJeito II will build on Jeito I’s proven and differentiated strategy, investing in the most promising clinical Biopharma companies which address unmet patient needs and severe diseases, accelerate breakthrough therapeutic innovation, and deliver transformative benefits for patientsThis fundraise represents significant momentum for European Biopharma, strengthening its financial firepower and expertise to develop the next generation of global champions Jeito Capital (“Jeito”), a global independent private equity fund dedicated to Biopharma, toda
Croma-Pharma Acquires Synocrom™ and Returns to Orthopaedics8.4.2026 07:00:00 CEST | Press release
Hyaluronic acid product for knee osteoarthritis available in the EU and Switzerland from May 2026 Croma-Pharma is returning to the orthopaedics market with the reacquisition of Synocrom™, a hyaluronic acid product for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. A strategic return built on proven heritage With the reacquisition of Synocrom™, Croma-Pharma is re-entering orthopaedics and further broadening its portfolio in a field with strong historical roots for the company. Until 2014, Croma was active in orthopaedics, with Synocrom™ serving as a key pillar of its offering. Synocrom™ is not a new name in the market. During the period in which Croma actively marketed the product, it became one of the leading hyaluronic acid brands in Europe and ranked among the top brands in its category. Its return therefore represents more than a portfolio expansion: it marks the continuation of a successful orthopaedic legacy and reconnects Croma with an important part of its history. The reintroduction of
Murata Begins Mass Production of Seven Automotive MLCCs with World-leading Capacitance for Their Rated Voltage and Size, Supporting Stable Operation of In-vehicle Systems and Greater Design Flexibility8.4.2026 04:00:00 CEST | Press release
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 6981) (ISIN: JP3914400001) has begun mass production of seven AEC-Q200-qualified multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) that achieve the world’s largest capacitance for a given rated voltage and size*, supporting stable operation of in-vehicle systems and greater design flexibility. Five parts in the GCM series are rated at 2.5-4 Vdc, targeting IC peripheral circuits in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) applications. The remaining two MLCCs are rated at 25 Vdc for in-vehicle power line applications. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260407486750/en/ [Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.] Seven automotive MLCCs In recent years, as ADAS and AD technologies advance, the number and performance level of systems installed in vehicles have continued to increase. As a result, demand for higher capacitance low-voltage MLCCs used around ICs has grown to e
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