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Vertex Sells Legacy Oncology Portfolio To German Merck

 
• By Lucie Ellis-Taitt

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has sold off its oncology portfolio, comprised of six molecules across four early stage programs, to Merck of Germany for $230m and future royalties on sales – a low price tag in the immune-oncology deal spree arena.

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• Source: Shutterstock

German Merck has filled out its early stage oncology pipeline via a $230m licensing deal with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. covering four drug development programs, with a focus on solid tumors and DNA repair technology.

Vertex told Scrip it was not an oncology company and that it had been looking for a buyer for early stage oncology programs left over from its "legacy business". Vertex shifted its focus in the last five or so years to building up a specialty and rare disease portfolio – an action which has seen the company produce two successful cystic fibrosis treatments so far, with others in the pipeline

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