Merck strikes back against the Duggan empire (Summit Therapeutics)

Week 46 Deals (2024)

November 15, 2024

Deal of the Week: Merck & LaNova Medicines [BusinessWire]

First dual-mechanism bispecific antibody deal in competitive oncology space

  • Structure: Exclusive global license 

  • Date Announced: 14-Nov-2024 

  • Total Deal Value: Up to $1.7B ($70M upfront + milestones) 

  • Royalties: Tiered royalties on net sales 

  • Phase: Preclinical 

  • Key Terms: Targets PD-1/VEGF pathways simultaneously, addressing resistance mechanisms in solid tumors 

Notable Deals 

Schrödinger & Novartis [BusinessWire]

Expanding AI-driven drug discovery partnership with software licensing

  • Structure: Collaboration + software license 

  • Date Announced: 12-Nov-2024 

  • Total Deal Value: $594M ($100M upfront + $494M milestones) 

  • Royalties: Undisclosed 

  • Key Terms: Covers multiple undisclosed targets across therapeutic areas 

Genesis Therapeutics & NVIDIA [BusinessWire]

AI meets GPU acceleration for molecular modeling

  • Structure: Equity investment + collaboration 

  • Date Announced: 13-Nov-2024 

  • Equity Investment: $200M (NVIDIA-led) 

  • Key Terms: Joint optimization of generative AI models for small-molecule drug discovery 

Vesalius & GSK [PR Newswire]

Novel Parkinson’s disease pipeline with AI-optimized compounds 

  • Structure: Strategic alliance 

  • Date Announced: 12-Nov-2024 

  • Total Milestones: $575M 

  • Royalties: Mid-single to low-double digits 

  • Phase: Lead optimization 

Nippon Shinyaku & Atsena Therapeutics [GlobeNewswire]

Gene therapy play for rare pediatric blindness disorder

  • Structure: Exclusive U.S./Japan rights 

  • Date Announced: 13-Nov-2024 

  • Upfront Cash: Undisclosed 

  • Total Milestones: Development/commercialization payments 

  • Royalties: Undisclosed 

  • Phase: Phase I/II (ATSN-101 for LCA1) 

  • Regulatory Notes: Holds FDA RMAT, Orphan Drug, and Rare Pediatric Disease designations