Merck KGaA division collaborates with Ambryx

Merck KGaA has announced its Merck Serono division is to collaborate with Ambryx, the US biopharmaceutical company.

The two will team up to develop and commercialise the latter’s long-acting growth hormone products, according to Merck, focusing initially on ARX201, which is in phase I and II clinical trials.

“Merck Serono has a long-term commitment to children and adults with disorders requiring growth hormone treatment,” said Francois Feig, head of global therapeutic area endocrinology and cardio-metabolic care, Merck Serono.

“We believe that ARX201 has the potential to establish a new standard of care in growth hormone therapy.”

Mr Feig added that if the companies were to bring administration frequencies down, patients would reap the benefits in terms of both “convenience and quality of life”.

Merck Serono will now have worldwide commercialisation rights as part of the deal, which will also see Ambryx eligible for a number of milestone payments, based on clinical, regulatory and commercial factors.

Merck Serono is the division of Merck KGaA that deals with prescription drugs to treat major widespread diseases, according to the company’s website.