Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260 Merck, NicOx Sign Antihypertensive Pact | Contract Pharma

What are you searching for?

Sign in
Breaking News, Collaborations & Alliances

Merck, NicOx Sign Antihypertensive Pact

Author Image

By: Tim Wright

Editor-in-Chief, Contract Pharma

Merck and NicOx S.A. have signed an agreement to collaborate on the development of new antihypertensive drugs using NicOx’s proprietary nitric oxide-donating technology.  This agreement follows the successful completion of the companies’ research collaboration, which has generated promising results.

Under the terms of the agreement, NicOx will receive an upfront payment of $11.2 million and is eligible for potential further milestone payments of $340.2 million. NicOx has the option to co-promote on a fee-for-detail basis products that result from the agreement to specialist physicians, such as cardiologists, in the U.S. and certain major European countries.  In addition, Merck will pay NicOx industry standard royalties on the sales of all products resulting from the collaboration.

The agreement covers nitric oxide-donating derivatives of several major classes of antihypertensive agents for the treatment of high blood pressure, complications of hypertension, and other cardiovascular and related disorders.  Merck has the exclusive right to develop and commercialize antihypertensives that use NicOx’s nitric oxide-donating technology for the treatment of systemic hypertension.

NicOx will continue to be involved in the new research program, which will be focused on identifying lead candidates for development, while Merck will fund and manage all further preclinical and clinical development activities following selection of lead compounds.

“We are very pleased to be entering into this new collaboration with NicOx, which aims to address one of the world’s leading health problems,” said Anthony Ford-Hutchinson, Ph.D, executive vice president, research medicine, Merck Research Laboratories.  “We believe NicOx’s innovative NO-donating technology has the potential to lead to the development of new and improved antihypertensive medicines.  With this new agreement, we are building on our excellent existing relationship with NicOx to combine NicOx’s research skills with Merck’s industry-leading development and marketing capabilities in this area, with our joint goal of advancing patient care.”

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Get the latest Contract Pharma news, insights and analysis in your Google Search and AI experiences.

Add Contract Pharma as a preferred source on Google (opens in a new tab)

Keep Up With Our Content. Subscribe To Contract Pharma Newsletters