BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Merck terminating Ariad ridaforolimus deal

February 26, 2014 1:30 AM UTC

Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ARIA) disclosed in its 4Q13 and 2013 financial results on Tuesday that partner Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is terminating an amended 2007 deal under which the pharma had exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize ridaforolimus for cancer indications. The deal termination will be effective on Nov. 20.

In June 2012, Merck and Ariad received a complete response letter from FDA for ridaforolimus as maintenance therapy for metastatic soft tissue or bone sarcoma patients with stable disease following chemotherapy. The agency asked for additional studies. Merck withdrew an MAA for the compound in the same indication in November 2012. Ariad did not disclose next steps for the small molecule inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin ( mTOR; FRAP; RAFT1) (see BioCentury Extra, Nov. 29, 2012). ...