Italy-based Nerviano Medical Sciences S.r.l. (NMS), which is 90% owned by Chinese investment fund SARI under a deal that closed in 2018, has unveiled a collaboration and licensing deal with Germany-based Merck Healthcare KGaA. The agreement grants Merck global rights to develop and commercialize the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) inhibitor NMS-293. Merck is paying $65 million upfront, with further undisclosed milestone commitments and royalties on future sales.
Drug Overview and Development
NMS-293 is an orally available small molecule inhibitor of PARP1 and is currently in early clinical development. The drug is being evaluated for the treatment of patients with BRCA mutated tumors as a single agent and in combination with temozolomide (TMZ) for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM).
Background on Nerviano and SARI
SARI, affiliated with the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, invested $369 million to acquire a 90% stake in Nerviano in partnership with a group of investors and China-based pharma company Nanjing Hicin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHE: 300584). The deal closed in March 2018.
Future Outlook
The collaboration with Merck Healthcare marks a significant step for Nerviano Medical Sciences in advancing the development of NMS-293. By leveraging Merck’s global capabilities, the partnership aims to bring this innovative PARP1 inhibitor to patients worldwide, addressing significant unmet needs in the treatment of BRCA mutated tumors and recurrent glioblastoma.-Fineline Info & Tech
