FDA approves Ragwitek

FDA approved a BLA from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) for Ragwitek, a ragweed sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet (AIT), to treat ragweed pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, with or without conjunctivitis, in patients 18 to 65 years of age. Merck said Ragwitek will be available in the U.S. by the end of the month. The U.S. approval triggers an undisclosed milestone payment from Merck to ALK-Abello A/S (CSE:ALK-B) and comes on the heels of FDA's approval on Monday of a BLA from Merck for Grastek, a grass pollen sublingual AIT (see BioCentury Extra, April 14). ...