Curve Therapeutics sets up deal with Merck that could be worth $1.7 billion

Privately-held UK biotech Curve Therapeutics today announces a global research collaboration with US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the USA and Canada, to discover and validate modulators of up to five therapeutic targets using its Microcycle technology, initially for oncology and neurology indications.

Under the terms of the agreement Curve will get an undisclosed upfront payment, and will be eligible to receive research, development and commercial milestones totalling up to $ 1.7 billion should all five therapeutic programs succeed. Curve will also receive a royalty on net sales of any approved products resulting from the alliance.

Under the accord, Curve will perform high throughput mammalian cell-based functional screening, hit characterization, data-mining and analysis, and Microcycle optimization. Merck will be responsible for lead optimization, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of compounds identified through the collaboration.