This is -- as I often say -- a heady time to be following the life sciences focused on human oncology. Progress occurs daily it seems, and while the word "cure" is still absolutely an anathema -- it draws slightly nearer (on the far horizon), day by day.
Here is the Merck release -- and a bit:
. . . .“At Merck we continue to enhance our robust pipeline through active execution of our business development strategy," said Dr. Dean Li, senior vice president, discovery and translational medicine, Merck Research Laboratories. “Tilos has developed a compelling portfolio of candidates that employ a novel approach to modulating the potent signaling molecule TGFβ by binding to latency-associated peptide, with potential applications across a range of disease indications.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire all outstanding shares of Tilos for total potential consideration of up to $773 million, including an upfront payment as well as contingent milestone payments. . . .
TGFβ is a potent cytokine believed to play an important role in the development of cancer and fibrotic diseases. TGFβ is secreted as a complex with the protein, latency-associated peptide (LAP). LAP forms a cage around TGFβ, holding the cytokine in an inactive state until it is deployed. Evidence has shown that anti-LAP antibodies block the release of TGFβ from the TGFβ-LAP complex with the potential to provide a novel therapeutic mechanism to reduce TGFβ activity. . . .
This is becoming an embarrassment of riches, it seems -- for Mr. Frazier.
Onward, on a clearing and luminous dawn. . .
नमस्ते
No comments:
Post a Comment