Business Cocktail

Merck and Eisai has entered into an Oncology Pact worth Up to USD 5.76 Billion

Two major pharmaceutical companies (Merck & Eisai) has entered into a USD 5.76 Billion pact to develop and commercialize Lenvima (lenvatinib mesylate) both as a monotherapy and an in-combination therapy for treating multiple types of cancer. The drug will be used in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck’s blockbuster drug with a recorded USD 3.8 Billion sales in 2017.

Lundbeck planning to buy Prexton therapeutics for its phase 2 Parkinson’s drug

In a recent deal Lundbeck is paying USD 123 Million up front to buy Prexton Therapeutics and its phase 2 Parkinson’s disease drug. With this deal Lundbeck will hold control of an mGluR4 positive allosteric modulator designed to improve the long-term symptom control of dopaminergic agents. Lundbeck is handing over USD 123 Million upfront and committing to pay up to USD 992 Million in milestones tied to clinical, regulatory and commercial successes.

Sun Pharma has recently announced USFDA approval of ILUMYA for the treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Sun Pharma has recently announced that USFDA has approved ILUMYA for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. ILUMYA specifically binds to the p19 subunit of IL-23 and inhibits its interaction with IL-23 receptor leading to inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Ocugen moving to Phase 3 with dry eye disease drug

Ocugen Biotherapeutics, an eye disease specialist company is moving ahead with its drug candidates after getting FDA approval for its dry eye drug candidate OCU310. Company has recently cleared a phase 2 trial for OCU310 and is now moving into phase 3 trial. The results has shown that OCU310 a combination of already-approved drugs brimonidine tartrate and loteprednol etabonate has successfully improved various symptoms of dry eye disease.