BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Merck Serono in-licenses Ono's S1P receptor agonist

October 5, 2011 12:33 AM UTC

Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4528; Osaka:4528) granted Merck Serono exclusive rights outside of Japan, Korea and Taiwan to develop and commercialize multiple sclerosis (MS) compound ONO-4641. The sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist is in Phase II testing to treat relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Ono will receive Y1.5 billion ($19.5 million) up front and is eligible for milestones. Merck Serono is a division of Merck KGaA (Xetra:MRK). ...