Cyprumed inks license deals with Merck & Co

Austrian drug delivery specialist Cyprumed GmbH and US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the USA and Canada, have signed a non-exclusive license and option agreement to develop oral formulations of MSD’s peptides using Cyprumed’s innovative drug delivery technology.

As a result, MSD gains non-exclusive global rights to Cyprumed’s oral peptide delivery platform for an undisclosed number of targets. The agreement also grants MSD the option to exclusively license Cyprumed’s technology for use with individual targets.

Cyprumed will be eligible to receive up to $493 million in upfront, development, regulatory and net sales milestones associated with the approval of any products under the collaboration. Cyprumed may also receive additional payments if MSD exercises its option. MSD will be responsible for the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of any product utilizing the Cyprumed delivery technology under the agreement.