Merck & Co steps up search for antihypertensive candidate

Following "promising" findings in an earlier collaboration, Merck & Co and NicOx have signed a collaboration agreement for the development of antihypertensive drugs using NicOx" proprietary nitric oxide-donating technology.

The companies" previous research collaboration on nitric oxide-donation generated results showing that it can improve the efficacy of antihypertensive agents in in vivo models, while a prototype nitric oxide-donating antihypertensive compound was shown to be effective at lowering blood pressure in established models of hypertension.

The new 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, and gives Merck the exclusive rights to develop and commercialise any resulting products. Merck will fund and manage all pre-clinical and clinical development activities following the selection of lead compounds.

NicOx, based in Sophia Antipolis, France, will receive an upfront payment of Euro 9.2m (US$11.2m), future milestone payments of up to €279m ($340.2m) and "industry standard royalties". It also has the option to co-promote, on a fee for detail basis, resulting products to specialist physicians, such as cardiologists, in the US and certain major European countries.

"We are delighted to be entering into this new agreement with Merck, which demonstrates the importance of our research in the cardiovascular area," said Michele Garufi, chairman and ceo NicOx. "The option to co-promote resulting products alongside Merck is central to NicOx" strategy. We intend to leverage this opportunity to support our transformation into a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company."