錢不是問題：默克再出手，收購OncoEthix

　　12月18日，默克宣布通過其子公司收購一家專門從事腫瘤藥物開發、瑞士私營生物科技公司OncoEthix，該公司成立于2009年，主打產品為OTX015（一種新型的口服BET抑制劑，用于治療血液和實體腫瘤）。

　　“腫瘤是默克公司重點優先領域，此次收購OncoEthix能是支持優化創新分子、潛在提高癌癥晚期治療的戰略計劃，”默克研究實驗室全球臨床開發高級副總裁Roy Baynes博士說道，“口服BET抑制劑已經證明在血液癌癥中有潛在活性，能戰略性擴展我們免疫腫瘤發展項目。”

　　“我們很高興OTX015將成為默克的一部分，”OncoEthix的首席執行官Bertrand Damour說道，“此次收購能證明OTX015在血液癌癥中的作用，同時有潛在治療晚期腫瘤的作用。我們有信心此次與默克的交易能夠充分開發OTX015，并發揮在高度滿足醫療需求的全部潛力。”

　　本次收購的財務條款包括1.1億美元的預付款和額外附條件不超過2.65億美元的里程碑付款。

Merck Acquires OncoEthix, a Privately Held Oncology Company Developing Novel BET Inhibitors for Hematological and Solid Cancers

　　Merck (MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that it has acquired, through a subsidiary, OncoEthix, a Swiss-based privately held biotechnology company specializing in oncology drug development. Through the acquisition, Merck has gained an investigational, novel oral BET (bromodomain) inhibitor, OTX015, which is currently in Phase 1b studies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and advanced solid tumors.

　　 “Oncology is a priority area of focus for Merck and the acquisition of OncoEthix supports our strategy to prioritize the development of innovative molecules with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced cancers,” said Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “The potential first-in-class oral BET inhibitor, OTX015, has demonstrated early promising activity in hematological cancers and strategically complements our broad immuno-oncology development program.”

　　“We are delighted that OTX015 will now be in the hands of Merck, a company with a successful track record of developing cutting-edge therapies,” said Bertrand Damour, chief executive officer, OncoEthix. “The acquisition underlines the promise that OTX015 has shown in the treatment of hematological malignancies, and the potential it has for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. We are confident that our transaction with Merck best positions OTX015 to be developed to its full potential in areas of high unmet medical need.”

　　BET proteins are considered potential therapeutic targets in cancer, as they play a pivotal role in regulating the transcription of key regulators of cancer cell growth and survival, including

　　c-Myc.Interim data from ongoing Phase I clinical studies of OTX015 have demonstrated meaningful clinical activity in patients with hematological malignancies. Interim data were recently presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April 2014. An international, open-label Phase 1 study evaluating OTX015 in five different solid tumors was initiated in November 2014.

　　Financial terms of the acquisition include an upfront payment of up to $110 million to OncoEthix. Additional milestone payments of up to $265 million are contingent upon certain clinical and regulatory events being achieved.