Merck KGaA musculoskeletal, pharmaceuticals news
Merck's Merck Serono S.A. unit launched the not-for-profit EspeRare Foundation to reposition existing drugs to treat rare diseases. Merck Serono will transfer the rights to rimeporide to EspeRare and also initially donate to the foundation €2.8 million ($3.7 million). EspeRare will work with patient groups and biomedical centers to develop compounds from preclinical to Phase I or II, at which point the compounds may return to the originator or will be developed by pharma partners.
EspeRare plans to develop rimeporide, an inhibitor of solute carrier family 9 sodium hydrogen exchanger member 1 ( SLC9A1; NHE1), for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Merck Serono discontinued the compound during Phase I testing for congestive heart failure (CHF) for strategic reasons. EspeRare plans to perform preclinical validation before moving the compound into clinical testing for DMD. ...