钱不是问题：默克再出手，收购OncoEthix

　　12月18日，默克宣布通过其子公司收购一家专门从事肿瘤药物开发、瑞士私营生物科技公司OncoEthix，该公司成立于2009年，主打产品为OTX015（一种新型的口服BET抑制剂，用于治疗血液和实体肿瘤）。

　　“肿瘤是默克公司重点优先领域，此次收购OncoEthix能是支持优化创新分子、潜在提高癌症晚期治疗的战略计划，”默克研究实验室全球临床开发高级副总裁Roy Baynes博士说道，“口服BET抑制剂已经证明在血液癌症中有潜在活性，能战略性扩展我们免疫肿瘤发展项目。”

　　“我们很高兴OTX015将成为默克的一部分，”OncoEthix的首席执行官Bertrand Damour说道，“此次收购能证明OTX015在血液癌症中的作用，同时有潜在治疗晚期肿瘤的作用。我们有信心此次与默克的交易能够充分开发OTX015，并发挥在高度满足医疗需求的全部潜力。”

　　本次收购的财务条款包括1.1亿美元的预付款和额外附条件不超过2.65亿美元的里程碑付款。

Merck Acquires OncoEthix, a Privately Held Oncology Company Developing Novel BET Inhibitors for Hematological and Solid Cancers

　　Merck (MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that it has acquired, through a subsidiary, OncoEthix, a Swiss-based privately held biotechnology company specializing in oncology drug development. Through the acquisition, Merck has gained an investigational, novel oral BET (bromodomain) inhibitor, OTX015, which is currently in Phase 1b studies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and advanced solid tumors.

　　 “Oncology is a priority area of focus for Merck and the acquisition of OncoEthix supports our strategy to prioritize the development of innovative molecules with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced cancers,” said Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “The potential first-in-class oral BET inhibitor, OTX015, has demonstrated early promising activity in hematological cancers and strategically complements our broad immuno-oncology development program.”

　　“We are delighted that OTX015 will now be in the hands of Merck, a company with a successful track record of developing cutting-edge therapies,” said Bertrand Damour, chief executive officer, OncoEthix. “The acquisition underlines the promise that OTX015 has shown in the treatment of hematological malignancies, and the potential it has for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. We are confident that our transaction with Merck best positions OTX015 to be developed to its full potential in areas of high unmet medical need.”

　　BET proteins are considered potential therapeutic targets in cancer, as they play a pivotal role in regulating the transcription of key regulators of cancer cell growth and survival, including

　　c-Myc.Interim data from ongoing Phase I clinical studies of OTX015 have demonstrated meaningful clinical activity in patients with hematological malignancies. Interim data were recently presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April 2014. An international, open-label Phase 1 study evaluating OTX015 in five different solid tumors was initiated in November 2014.

　　Financial terms of the acquisition include an upfront payment of up to $110 million to OncoEthix. Additional milestone payments of up to $265 million are contingent upon certain clinical and regulatory events being achieved.