Merrimack Launches as New, Refocused Research & Clinical Development Company with Resources to Advance Prioritized Lead Pipeline Candidates MM-121, MM-141 and MM-310
Merrimack received
"The completion of this sale marks our first day as a new Merrimack: a refocused research and clinical development company, with a promising pipeline that is poised for continued long-term success and stockholder value creation," said
With the completion of the Ipsen transaction, Merrimack is now prioritizing three clinical programs:
- MM-121 (seribantumab) is a first-in-class fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to the HER3 receptor and targets heregulin positive cancers. Merrimack is currently conducting the Phase 2 randomized SHERLOC study evaluating MM-121 in HRG+ non-small cell lung cancer patients in combination with docetaxel or pemetrexed and plans to initiate another Phase 2 randomized study this year in Her2 negative, hormone receptor, and heregulin positive breast cancer patients.
- MM-141 (istiratumab) is a bispecific tetravalent antibody and a potent inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by targeting IGF1-R and HER3. Currently, Merrimack is conducting the CARRIE study, a Phase 2 randomized trial evaluating MM-141 in previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with high levels of free IGF1 in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine.
- MM-310 is an antibody-directed nanotherapeutic (ADN) that contains a novel prodrug of docetaxel and targets the EphA2 receptor, which is highly expressed in most solid tumor types. MM-310 was designed to improve the therapeutic window of docetaxel in major oncology indications, such as prostate, ovarian, bladder, gastric, pancreatic and lung cancers. A first-in-human Phase 1 study to evaluate safety and preliminary activity of MM-310 was initiated in the first quarter of 2017.
As previously announced, Merrimack intends to use the
- Invest
$125 million to develop Merrimack's streamlined oncology pipeline such that Merrimack will be able to fund itself into the second half of 2019; - Extinguish the
$175 million in outstanding Senior Secured Notes due in 2022, plus approximately$20 million of costs associated with the redemption; and - Return
$140 million to Merrimack's stockholders through a special cash dividend. The Board of Directors plans to approve the special cash dividend and announce a record date and ex-dividend date in due course.
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About Merrimack
Merrimack is a biopharmaceutical company based in
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements of Merrimack that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements can be identified by the use of the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar expressions. Merrimack's forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about the expected dividend, potential milestone payments and its ability to fund its operations, including continued investment in its research and development pipeline; and Merrimack's plans to develop and commercialize its clinical stage product candidates and diagnostics. Actual events or results may differ materially from those
described in this release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, whether Merrimack receives payments related to the milestone events under its contract with Shire, when expected or at all, under the asset purchase agreement; risks related to whether Merrimack's expenses are as predicted; whether Merrimack is able to satisfy the necessary legal tests required to make the anticipated dividend; negative effects of the consummation of the transaction on the market price of Merrimack's common stock; unknown liabilities; other business effects, including the effects of industry, market, economic, political, or regulatory conditions; and those risk factors discussed in Merrimack's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
Contact:
617-441-7602
ggrande@merrimack.com
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