Under terms of the agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary, will gain exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize EIDD-2801 and related molecules.
Ridgeback Bio will receive an undisclosed upfront payment, specified milestones and a share of the net proceeds of EIDD-2801 and related molecules, if approved. Merck will be responsible for clinical development, regulatory filings and manufacturing.
The transaction is subject to the expiration or earlier termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and other customary closing conditions.
Merck and Ridgeback are committed to ensure that any medicines we develop for SARS-CoV-2 will be accessible and affordable globally.
EIDD-2801 is an investigational, orally-bioavailable form of a potent ribonucleoside analog that inhibits the replication of multiple RNA viruses including SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19.
In animal studies of two distinct coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-1 and MERS), EIDD-2801 has been shown to improve pulmonary function, decrease body-weight loss and reduce the amount of virus in the lung. EIDD-2801 was invented at Drug Innovations at Emory (DRIVE), LLC, a not-for-profit biotechnology company wholly owned by Emory University.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics is a privately held, majority woman-owned biotechnology company focused on orphan and emerging infectious diseases.
Initial funding for Ridgeback Biotherapeutics originated from Wayne and Wendy Holman; two individuals committed to investing in and supporting technologies that will make the world a better place.
The team at Ridgeback is dedicated to working toward finding life-saving and life-changing solutions for patients and diseases that need champions.
Quanterix partners with leading health networks for Alzheimer's diagnosis advancements
Precision BioSciences reports FDA pre-IND feedback for PBGENE-HBV
VBI to sell manufacturing capabilities and enter new license agreement with Brii Biosciences
Ondine Biomedical's Steriwave shows promise in nasal pathogen reduction
BioSenic expands patent coverage for ATO therapeutic platform
PacBio unveils Nanobind PanDNA kit for enhanced DNA extraction solutions
Sequentify receives funding from Israel Innovation Authority
INOVIO plans BLA submission for INO-3107 as RRP treatment
ImmunityBio secures USD320m investment from Oberland Capital
Poolbeg Pharma prioritises promising RSV drug candidates identified through AI-led analysis
GHIT fund invests JPY500m in antimalarial drug clinical trial
AstraZeneca agrees acquisition of Icosavax
Versameb names new chairman of the board
Kling Bio appoints Dr Stefano Gullà as chief scientific officer