Last Night, Merck Had Good Phase III Clinical Trial News, On A Fast-Tracked CMV Antiviral -- AiCuris' Knock-On Effect, Too

This will likely help AiCuris as well, truth told. Back in 2012, AiCuris received a €110 million upfront payment -- from Merck's non-US family of companies. Under the terms of that out-license, AiCuris may receive additional payments if specific milestones are met -- as well as post FDA approval- and market launch- royalty payments. Do go read it all, as linked below.

For now, I'll let FierceBiotech tell the tale:

. . . .[Merck's] fast-tracked antiviral letermovir has hit its primary endpoint in a Phase III test as the partners look to capitalize on Chimerix’s blowup.

The Phase III test was looking at the efficacy and safety of letermovir once daily, in both tab and IV form, for the prevention of clinically significant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in patients that are seropositive recipients of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Data were not posted, but these will come at a future scientific conference, according to the company. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of participants with clinically significant CMV infection through 24 weeks after transplant.

The med is designed to inhibit the human CMV viral terminase and the Big Pharma got hold of the drug under a deal signed back in 2012 when Merck bought the worldwide rights to develop and sell letermovir from Bayer spinout AiCuris. . . .

Now you know. Even though the weather was a bit gray, and chilly throughout -- it would be hard to imagine a better end to it. Ear to ear grinning, now. And. . . Go Cubbies! Up 1-0 early, in LA. . . . coming to the friendly confines to close it out.

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