Merck Expands Oral Peptide Portfolio with $493M Cyprumed Deal

Merck & Co. has entered into a significant licensing agreement with Austrian biotech Cyprumed, aiming to leverage the company's proprietary oral peptide delivery platform. The deal, worth up to $493 million, marks Merck's latest move to strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive peptide therapeutics market.

Nonexclusive Licensing Agreement Details

The nonexclusive licensing and option pact grants Merck access to Cyprumed's technology for developing novel oral formulations of its peptide therapies. While specifics remain undisclosed, the agreement includes an upfront fee and potential development, regulatory, and commercialization milestones.

Merck will be responsible for the research and development, manufacturing, and commercialization of any products arising from the collaboration. The pharmaceutical giant also retains the exclusive option to license Cyprumed's technology for individual targets, which could lead to additional payments for the Austrian biotech.

Expanding Oral Peptide Portfolio

Cyprumed's platform has demonstrated versatility in formulating various peptide types, including GLP-1 analogs, mini-proteins, and macrocycles. This aligns with Merck's current peptide pipeline, which includes two notable candidates:

1. Enlicitide decanoate: A late-stage, orally available PCSK9 inhibitor for high cholesterol, being developed in partnership with UCB Pharmaceuticals.

2. Efinopegdutide: A Phase II GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist, currently administered via subcutaneous injection for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

While Merck has not specified which peptides will be targeted for oral formulation, the deal with Cyprumed opens up possibilities for expanding its oral peptide portfolio, particularly in the realm of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

Strategic Alignment with Obesity and Cardiometabolic Focus

This partnership aligns with Merck's stated strategy in the weight loss and cardiometabolic space. CEO Robert Davis previously emphasized the company's focus on developing oral formulations and prioritizing drugs that offer cardiometabolic benefits in addition to weight reduction.

The collaboration with Cyprumed potentially allows Merck to enhance its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving obesity treatment landscape, where oral formulations could provide a significant advantage over injectable alternatives.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to explore the potential of peptide therapeutics, Merck's latest move underscores the growing importance of innovative drug delivery technologies in shaping the future of medicine.