Merck Sharp and Dohme and Agenus agree cancer alliance

Merck Sharp and Dohme has signed a collaboration and license agreement with immuno-oncology company Agenus, focusing on the field of cancer research.

The partnership will involve the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies to immune checkpoints for the treatment of cancer, with Agenus set to discover and optimise fully human antibodies against two undisclosed Merck checkpoint targets.

Utilising Agenus' 4-Antibody Retrocyte Display platform, the alliance will result in the creation of high-quality antibody development candidates. Merck will take responsibility for clinical development and commercialisation of candidates generated under the collaboration.

Agenus, meanwhile, will receive approximately $100 million (59.47 million pounds) in potential payments based on the accomplishment of certain clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, while it will also be eligible for royalty payments on worldwide product sales.

Dr Eric Rubin, vice-president for clinical oncology at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "We look forward to working to advance these programmes with the potential to address the unmet medical needs of people with cancer."

This comes after the firm allied with Ferring Pharmaceuticals and the World Health Organization to develop a new therapy for postpartum haemorrhage earlier this month.