Merck opts into NASH and type 2 diabetes license deals

4 January 2019

US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) today revealed it has exercised its option to license NGM313, an investigational monoclonal antibody agonist of the β-Klotho/FGFR1c receptor complex that is currently being evaluated for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and type 2 diabetes, under its four-year research collaboration with NGM Biopharmaceuticals.

This is part of the companies’ broad strategic collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize novel biologic therapeutics announced in 2015, and news of Merck’s opt-in saw the firm’s shares gain 2.39% to $75.84.

“We are pleased with the progress of this collaboration and look forward to future developments with NGM that build upon Merck’s industry-leading position in metabolic diseases,” said Dr Joe Miletich, senior vice president, preclinical and early development, Merck Research Laboratories. “Merck is committed to advancing candidates with the potential to have a meaningful impact in the treatment of metabolic diseases, including NGM313 for NASH,” he noted.

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