Cerecor acquires rights to Merck & Co's COMT inhibitors

22 March 2013

US neuroscience biotech company Cerecor has acquired exclusive, worldwide rights to develop, register and commercialize agents that inhibit catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors (COMT inhibitors), previously discovered and owned by pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Under the terms of the accord, Cerecor will evaluate more than 2,000 molecules and select lead candidates for clinical development. Consideration includes milestone payments and royalties consistent with other preclinical licenses in neuroscience. Cerecor anticipates completing the technology transfer activities in 2013.

"Merck has developed an innovative COMT platform that has addressed the toxicity associated with existing COMT drugs. By accessing this platform, Cerecor broadens its cognition pipeline, which also includes DAAO inhibitors. This enhances our leadership in neuropsychiatric drug development," stated Reza Mazhari, Cerecor's vice president of drug discovery and development.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK