MADRID, 18 (EUROPA PRESS)
German pharmaceutical company Merck signed an agreement on Monday valued at more than $2 billion (€1.715 billion) with US-based Skyhawk Therapeutics to develop neurological therapies for conditions with limited treatment options.
Skyhawk will develop RNA-targeted micromolecule-based drugs and lead preclinical research, while Merck will be responsible for later stages of R&D and the commercialization of any products.
The terms of the agreement include an initial payment and additional payments tied to specific milestones, as well as royalties on future sales.
"Our collaboration with Skyhawk aligns with our strategic focus on innovative science and next-generation technologies that have the potential to deliver effective medicines to patients with neurological conditions," said Amy Kao, senior vice president and head of Merck's Neuroscience and Immunology Research Unit.
"This collaboration underscores the potential of our SkySTAR platform to address complex disease biology through precise RNA targeting. We look forward to working closely with Merck to develop potentially first-of-its-kind medicines," said Skyhawk CEO Bill Haney.
