Merrimack & Actavis 合作 價值 $15.5 million !!

瞄準奈米微脂體技術 智擎夥伴Mack結盟Actavis 精實新聞 2013-11-27 09:05:52 記者 蕭燕翔 報導 新藥廠智擎(4162)策略夥伴Merrimack(Mack)於26日美股開盤前宣布，將與全球前十大藥廠之一的Actavis(安斯泰來)簽署合作協議，Merrimack將因此取得總值1,550萬美元的金額，其中包含200萬美元的前期金(upfront)及後續藥品商業化後的里程碑金(Milestone Payment)；未來Merrimack將利用其奈米微脂體(nanoliposomal)技術平台，協助Actavis多項產品的開發及生產，行銷全球。 Actavis是由全球前三大學名藥廠Watson於去年4月收購Actavis而成，收購總價達42.5億歐元，後全球名稱定名為Actavis，今年5月該公司再度宣布以85億美元宣布併購同業Warner Chilcott plc(WCRX.US)，擴張版圖的企圖不小。 而因相中Merrimack在奈米微脂體的技術平台，Actavis於美股周二開盤前也宣布，與Merrimack 簽署合作協議，官方版本公告Merrimack將因該協議取得總值1,550萬美元的合作金，其中包含200萬美元的前期金，其餘還包括後續發展及商品化後的里程碑金；有外媒傳言，該協議將使Merrimack有機會自合作品項全球銷售額中取得兩位數的分潤。事實上，以研發新藥為主的Merrimack，奈米微脂體是其發展特殊劑型新藥很重要的技術平台，使用該技術平台的新藥包括與智擎合作的胰臟癌新藥MM-398，另外還有用於乳癌的MM-302及其他臨床前的專案；外界也預期，兩方的合作，除顯示Actavis看好該技術平台的發展機會外，也能強化Merrimack的財務結構，並取得未來合作品項擴大全球市場的機會。這也不是Merrimack首度與國際大廠結盟，仍被該公司視為重點發展品項的單抗藥物MM-121，則是Merrimack與Sanofi結盟開發的品項，先前雖宣布在晚期卵巢癌的二期臨床不如預期，但最新釋出其在生物標記(Biomarker)的特殊貢獻，Merrimack仍將持續開發。 而Merrimack今年股價大洗三溫暖，今年以來跌幅超過四成，先前甚至因MM-121臨床結果不如預期，當天大跌超過兩成，本月7日法說對外釋疑，確認單抗藥物繼續發展的價值及釋出與大廠合作的可能性下，股價自今年低點2.05美元反彈至今已有七成，昨日因與Actavis結盟的消息傳出，單日股價大漲11%。

MERRIMACK AND ACTAVIS ANNOUNCE NANOTECHNOLOGY COLLABORATION

Tickers: MACK Collaboration Leverages Merrimack's Nanotechnology Platform and Expertise to Develop Specialty Pharmaceuticals CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:MACK), a biopharmaceutical company discovering, developing and preparing to commercialize innovative medicines paired with companion diagnostics for the treatment of cancer, and Actavis plc, a global, integrated specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the companies have entered into a collaboration agreement. Under the agreement, Merrimack will utilize its proprietary nanoliposomal technology platform to develop and manufacture various pharmaceutical products for Actavis to commercialize around the world. "This opportunity further validates Merrimack's nanoliposomal technology platform, which we have used to develop MM-398 and MM-302, as well as other preclinical programs," stated Edward J. Stewart, Senior Vice President at Merrimack and President of Merrimack Healthcare Solutions. "Under this collaboration, we are able to advance the development of our commercial infrastructure and utilize our manufacturing capacity to generate upside revenue opportunities to help fund our core R&D programs. Actavis is a dynamic company with significant expertise marketing specialty products around the globe, and we think they will be a great partner." Under the terms of the agreement, Merrimack is eligible to receive up to $15.5 million, including $2.0 million upfront and the remainder in committed near-term funding and development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments related to the first product to come out of the collaboration. In addition, Merrimack will receive a double-digit share of profits on future global sales of any commercialized products derived from the collaboration. Merrimack will be responsible for manufacturing bulk product at its Cambridge,Mass. nanoliposomal manufacturing facility. "We are pleased to enter this agreement with Merrimack and take advantage of their expertise in nanoliposomal development and manufacturing capabilities," stated Sigurdur O. Olafsson, President of Actavis Pharma. "We are excited to be working with them and their technology, and believe that together we can help meet the needs of patients around the world." Merrimack will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m., Eastern time, today to discuss this announcement. Investors and the general public are invited to listen to the call by dialing (877) 564-1301 (domestic) or (224) 357-2394 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing passcode 16791357.

About Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Merrimack is a biopharmaceutical company discovering, developing and preparing to commercialize innovative medicines paired with companion diagnostics for the treatment of cancer. Merrimack applies its systems biology-based approach to biomedical research throughout the research and development process. Merrimack currently has six oncology therapeutics in clinical development. For more information, please visit Merrimack's website at www.merrimackpharma.com.

About Actavis Actavis plc (NYSE:ACT) is a global, integrated specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and distributing generic, brand and biosimilar products.  Actavis has global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and U.S. administrative headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA. Actavis Pharma markets generic, branded generic, legacy brands and Over-the-Counter (OTC) products in more than 60 countries. Actavis Specialty Brands is a global branded specialty pharmaceutical business focused principally in the Urology and Women's Health therapeutic categories, as well as Gastroenterology and Dermatology. Actavis Specialty Brands also has a portfolio of five biosimilar products in development in Women's Health and Oncology. Actavis Global Operations has more than 30 manufacturing and distribution facilities around the world, and includes Anda, Inc., a U.S. pharmaceutical product distributor.