Merck and Avillion to develop new plaque psoriasis therapy

Merck has announced a new drug development alliance with the UK-based pharmaceutical company Avillion.

The partnership will focus on the future development of the anti-IL-17 A/F Nanobody, an investigational therapy created by Merck, which has completed phase I development and is expected to begin phase II trials in plaque psoriasis in 2017.

Avillion will take responsibility for developing the Nanobody project from phase II to phase III testing, while also financing the clinical programme through to regulatory submission. Merck originally acquired the rights to this therapy from Ablynx in 2013.

This new therapy has the potential to effectively treat inflammatory diseases. It is believed that the small size and unique structure of Nanobodies could make them an ideal building block for a new generation of novel biological drugs.

Belen Garijo, member of the executive board of Merck and chief executive officer for healthcare, said: "The collaboration announced today with Avillion will allow us to optimally deliver on the potential of IL-17, a compound which could address several areas of unmet need for patients today."

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