Molbio Diagnostics Invests $30 Million in OptraSCAN to Revolutionize Digital Pathology

BioNTech Acquires Chinese Oncology Firm Biotheus for $950M

The Care and Protection of Children Trust

CPCT Launches Groundbreaking Initiative to Provide Lifelong Free Treatment for Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Karnataka

Early Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Improves Cancer Treatment Outcomes, Study Shows

EMA Reverses Decision, Recommends Limited Approval for Eisai and Biogen’s Alzheimer’s Drug Leqembi

Exact Sciences Unveils Advances in Multi-Cancer Early Detection with Cancerguard™ Test

MSD and LaNova Medicines Enter Exclusive Global License Agreement for Novel Cancer Therapy, LM-299

Promising CAR T Cell Therapies from BMS and Cabaletta Bio Show Potential for Durable Remission in Severe Lupus

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to PTC Therapeutics' KEBILIDI™, the First Gene Therapy for AADC Deficiency in the U.S.

Association for Molecular Pathology Publishes Joint Consensus Report on SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance for Hospitals and Public Health Laboratories

Philips India Unveils Advanced Azurion Imaging System to Revolutionize Cardiac and Neurovascular Care

Tempus AI Study Highlights Benefits of Dual RNA and DNA Sequencing for Advanced Lung Cancer

Ontada and Datavant Partner to Expand Access to Real-World Oncology Data for Accelerated Cancer Innovation

Tempus AI and Flatiron Health Partner to Integrate Genomic Testing into OncoEMR for Enhanced Oncology Care

Flare Therapeutics and Roche Forge Strategic Partnership to Discover Precision Oncology Therapies Targeting Transcription Factors

Home
/
update
/
details

MSD to Acquire CN201, an Investigational B-Cell Depletion Therapy, from Curon Biopharmaceutical

NextEdge Admin

09 Aug 2024

2 min 7 sec

MSD has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Curon Biopharmaceutical's investigational bispecific antibody, CN201, aimed at treating B-cell associated diseases. This acquisition, made through a subsidiary, includes full global rights to CN201 for an upfront payment of $700 million, with potential milestone payments of up to $600 million.

CN201 is a novel clinical-stage antibody currently in Phase 1 and Phase 1b/2 trials for relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Early data show that CN201 effectively targets and depletes circulating and tissue B cells, suggesting its potential in treating B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. MSD plans to explore CN201's broader application in these areas.

Dr. Dean Y. Li, president of MSD Research Laboratories, emphasized the importance of expanding and diversifying MSD's pipeline, noting CN201’s promising early clinical data. Zhihong Chen, Curon’s president and CEO, highlighted MSD's capability to advance CN201's development.

The transaction, expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, is contingent on regulatory approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary conditions. MSD anticipates recording a pre-tax charge of approximately $750 million related to the acquisition in its non-GAAP results for the quarter in which the transaction closes. An update to MSD's financial outlook will be provided with its third-quarter 2024 results.