Merck & Co.

Feel Therapeutics Brings Michel Vounatsos as Chairman Of The Advisory Board, and Secures New Funding to Advance Digital Precision Medicine for Mental Health

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Neuroscience, Merck & Co., Patient, Therapy, Neuro, SAN, Knowledge, SOSV, CIO, Mental health, Medicine, Digital, Anthemis, Advisory board, Merck, CNS, Nursing

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Feel Therapeutics, the Digital Precision Medicine company for mental and behavioral health, announced today that Michel Vounatsos, former CEO of Biogen, has joined as a Chairman of their Advisory Board. Additionally, Feel has secured new funding from Satori Neuro, Metavallon VC, and existing investors such as SOSV, SeedtoB, and others, to fuel its expansion plans. Along with the new funding, Amy Kruse, Chief Investment Officer of Satori Neuro, a pioneering fund focused on mental health, neurotechnology, and human flourishing, has joined the Board of Directors as an observer. These new investors join Feel's existing group of investors, which includes Felicis, SOSV, Anthemis, SeedtoB, and others, that continue to support the company.

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Feel Therapeutics , the Digital Precision Medicine company for mental and behavioral health, announced today that Michel Vounatsos, former CEO of Biogen, has joined as a Chairman of their Advisory Board.
  • Feel Therapeutics welcomes Michel Vounatsos, former Biogen CEO, as Advisory Board Chairman.
  • "I am excited to join Feel Therapeutics at this pivotal moment in their journey," said Michel Vounatsos.
  • Feel's approach to precision medicine in mental & behavioral health can transform how we manage, monitor, and treat those conditions.

HARP Alert: Monsey Firm of Wohl & Fruchter Investigating Fairness of the Sale of Harpoon Therapeutics to Merck

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 8, 2024
Canaccord Genuity, Sale, Merck & Co., TipRanks, Wohl, SCLC, Pharmaceutical industry

MONSEY, N.Y., Jan. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Wohl & Fruchter LLP is investigating the fairness of the price of $23.00 per share in cash pursuant to which Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HARP) (“Harpoon”) has agreed to be sold to Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”).

Key Points: 
  • MONSEY, N.Y., Jan. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Wohl & Fruchter LLP is investigating the fairness of the price of $23.00 per share in cash pursuant to which Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HARP) (“Harpoon”) has agreed to be sold to Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”).
  • The sales price is below the price target of $30.00 per share of Wall Street analyst William Maughan at Canaccord Genuity.
  • On January 8, 2024, Harpoon announced that it had agreed to be sold for $23.00 per share in cash to Merck.
  • “We are investigating whether the Harpoon Board of Directors acted in the best interests of Harpoon shareholders in approving the sale,” explained Joshua Fruchter, a founding partner of Wohl & Fruchter.

Merck to Acquire Harpoon Therapeutics, Further Diversifying Oncology Pipeline

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 8, 2024
Research, FDA, Clinical Trials, Biotechnology, General Health, Pharmaceutical, Health, Science, Oncology, Other Science, MSD, Harpoon, Neoplasm, Construct, Multimedia, Physician, B-cell maturation antigen, Acquisition, Centerview Partners, Epithelial cell adhesion molecule, BCMA, Pharmacokinetics, Covington & Burling, Carcinoma, Merck & Co., SCLC, Patient, Safety, MRK, Creativity, DLL3, Glomus tumor, Pharmaceutical industry

“This agreement reflects the creativity and commitment of scientists and clinical development teams at Harpoon.

Key Points: 
  • “This agreement reflects the creativity and commitment of scientists and clinical development teams at Harpoon.
  • “At Harpoon, we have always been committed to advancing our cancer immunotherapy candidates to improve the lives of patients.
  • Under the terms of the agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire all outstanding shares of Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. for a price per share of $23.00 in cash.
  • Centerview Partners LLC acted as financial advisor to Harpoon and Goodwin Procter LLP acted as its legal advisor.

Orion and MSD Announce Initiation of Two Phase 3 Trials Evaluating ODM-208/MK5684 in Certain Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 5, 2024
MSD, Patient, CYP11A1, Orion, HRT, Hormone replacement therapy, Prostate cancer, Orion Corporation, Merck & Co., Research, Corporation, Merck, OS, Taxane, Development, Senior, Pharmaceutical industry

Orion Corporation (“Orion”) and MSD (known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada) have initiated two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating ODM-208/MK5684, an investigational CYP11A1 inhibitor, in combination with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), for the treatment of certain patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Key Points: 
  • Orion Corporation (“Orion”) and MSD (known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada) have initiated two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating ODM-208/MK5684, an investigational CYP11A1 inhibitor, in combination with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), for the treatment of certain patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
  • Patients are now enrolling in the trials, named OMAHA1 (NCT06136624) and OMAHA2a (NCT06136650).
  • The primary endpoints are overall survival (OS) and radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) by AR LBD mutation status.
  • Secondary endpoints include time to first subsequent therapy (TFST), objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR).

Merck Announces Phase 3 Trial Initiations for Four Investigational Candidates From its Promising Hematology and Oncology Pipeline

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 5, 2024
Biotechnology, Health, Pharmaceutical, Clinical Trials, Oncology, MSD, LSD1, Lung cancer, Science, Lymphocytosis, Bone marrow, Research, Malignancy, Orion, Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, CLL, Merck & Co., BTK, Cancer, Patient, SLL, MRK, ADC, Therapy, NSCLC, CYP11A1, Pharmaceutical industry

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the initiation of pivotal Phase 3 trials for four of its investigational candidates from its diverse pipeline in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

Key Points: 
  • Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the initiation of pivotal Phase 3 trials for four of its investigational candidates from its diverse pipeline in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
  • Global Phase 3 studies have been initiated and are actively enrolling for the following investigational candidates:
    Bomedemstat, an investigational orally available lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibitor, being evaluated for the treatment of certain patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET);
    Nemtabrutinib, an investigational oral, reversible, non-covalent Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, being evaluated for the treatment of certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL);
    MK-2870, an investigational trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2)-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC) being developed in collaboration with Kelun-Biotech, which is being evaluated for certain patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and certain patients with previously treated endometrial carcinoma;
    and MK-5684, an investigational CYP11A1 inhibitor being developed in collaboration with Orion, which is being evaluated for the treatment of certain patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
  • “These Phase 3 trial initiations for four of our investigational candidates represent a critical step forward in our efforts to advance potential treatment options for people with solid tumors and hematologic neoplasms and malignancies,” said Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories.
  • “We have a proud legacy of turning breakthrough science into medicines that save and improve lives around the world, and we are dedicated to continuing research to expand our broad portfolio of oncology therapeutics to continue to address unmet needs in cancer care.”

Sosei Group Announces Appointment of Experienced Pharmaceutical Executive Toshihiro Maeda as Chief Operating Officer

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 5, 2024
IPJ, Business, Acquisition, McKinsey & Company, MBA, Merck & Co., BMS, Merck, Growth, Small Business Saturday, Patient, Bristol Myers Squibb, University, Pharmaceutical industry

Tokyo, Japan and Cambridge, UK, 5 January 2024 – Sosei Group Corporation (“Sosei Heptares” or “the Company”; TSE: 4565) today announces the appointment of Mr. Toshihiro Maeda as Chief Operating Officer (“COO”).

Key Points: 
  • Tokyo, Japan and Cambridge, UK, 5 January 2024 – Sosei Group Corporation (“Sosei Heptares” or “the Company”; TSE: 4565) today announces the appointment of Mr. Toshihiro Maeda as Chief Operating Officer (“COO”).
  • Mr. Maeda brings with him a breadth of global management and commercialization experience and a strong background rooted in the pharmaceutical industry.
  • He also worked at McKinsey and Company in Japan and the UK where he gained global business experience in healthcare industry.
  • Chris Cargill, CEO and President of Sosei Heptares, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Toshihiro to the team here at Sosei Heptares.

Portage Biotech Reports Business and Strategic Update

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 4, 2024
PRTG, Adenosine, Drug development, Merck & Co., Disclosure, Merck, Patient, Therapy, Pembrolizumab, Pharmaceutical industry

The phase 1a dose escalation portion of the trial is enrolling quickly and there have been no safety signals of concern at the doses evaluated to date.

Key Points: 
  • The phase 1a dose escalation portion of the trial is enrolling quickly and there have been no safety signals of concern at the doses evaluated to date.
  • The company looks forward to presenting data from this portion of the trial at a conference later this year.
  • There is still much to learn about how to develop therapeutics for this target,” remarked Dr. Walters.
  • KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

Former Biogen CEO Michel Vounatsos Joins Quris-AI Board

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 4, 2024
MSD, Biology, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Partnership, Drug discovery, Immunology, Drug development, Merck & Co., TEL, Novartis, MBA, GHH, AI, Artificial intelligence, History, Pharmaceutical industry

BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quris-AI , an artificial intelligence (AI) innovator disrupting the pharmaceutical arena, announced the addition of Michel Vounatsos, former CEO of Biogen, to its Board of Directors, and the appointment of Yossi Ben Amram, former Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD) Regional President, as President of Quris-AI.

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quris-AI , an artificial intelligence (AI) innovator disrupting the pharmaceutical arena, announced the addition of Michel Vounatsos, former CEO of Biogen, to its Board of Directors, and the appointment of Yossi Ben Amram, former Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD) Regional President, as President of Quris-AI.
  • “Adding accomplished pharmaceutical leaders such as Yossi Ben Amram and Michel Vounatsos to our leadership team will be invaluable in our push for a pharma Bio-AI revolution.
  • Michel Vounatsos brings extensive global leadership and management experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including having served as CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Biogen, Inc. from early 2017 until November 2022.
  • Vounatsos earned his MBA from the HEC School of Management in Paris, France, and his C.S.C.T.

Merck to Participate in the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Biotechnology, Health, Pharmaceutical, Clinical Trials, Oncology, MSD, PST, EST, Conference, MRK, Merck & Co.

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, and Dr. Dean Y. Li, executive vice president and president, Merck Research Laboratories, are scheduled to participate in a fireside chat at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. PST / 7:30 p.m. EST.

Key Points: 
  • Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, and Dr. Dean Y. Li, executive vice president and president, Merck Research Laboratories, are scheduled to participate in a fireside chat at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. PST / 7:30 p.m. EST.

SpliceBio Appoints Leading Ophthalmology Expert Aniz Girach as Chief Medical Officer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Conference, Wills Eye Hospital, Biotechnology, Paratriathlon, Medicine, Nightstar, Acquisition, Eli Lilly, Alcon, Retina, ProQR, Drug, MD, Ocriplasmin, Merck & Co., Stargardt disease, Abstract, Protein splicing, Laboratory, Stargardt, Merck, Gene, Genetic, Growth, Biogen, Pharmaceutical industry

BARCELONA, Spain, Jan. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SpliceBio, a genetic medicines company harnessing Protein Splicing to develop the next generation of gene therapies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Aniz Girach, MD as Chief Medical Officer.

Key Points: 
  • BARCELONA, Spain, Jan. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SpliceBio, a genetic medicines company harnessing Protein Splicing to develop the next generation of gene therapies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Aniz Girach, MD as Chief Medical Officer.
  • Dr Girach was Global Head of Ophthalmology at Merck & Co and Vice President, Clinical Development at Alcon Laboratories.
  • Prior to joining SpliceBio, he led the development of genetic therapies for inherited retinal diseases at ProQR Therapeutics NV as its Chief Medical Officer.
  • Aniz Girach, MD., Chief Medical Officer of SpliceBio, commented: "Inherited retinal diseases are a heterogenous group of rare diseases that can lead to severe visual disability and blindness, affecting approximately 5.5 million people worldwide.