Pharmaceutical industry
Merck receives approval for cancer after billion deals
After the greatest pharmaceutical takeover in decades, Merck can record a success. The EU gives a cancer agent against rare tumors – good news for affected patients.
Shortly after a billion -dollar takeover in the business with cancer medication, Merck receives an important medicine approval. The EU Commission gave the Green Light for the Means of OGSIVO as a therapy for the treatment of rare soft tuning tumors in adults, said the DAX company. OGSIVEO is the first and only therapy approved in the EU to treat so -called desmid tumors.
Tumor type so far difficult to treat
The agent was developed by the SpringWorks Therapeutics company, which Merck had only taken over in July for around three billion euros – the greatest purchase in the pharmaceutical business of the Darmstadt residents for almost 20 years.
Desmoid tumors are rare, locally aggressively growing tumors that arise in the connective tissue of the body. According to the information, around 1,300 to 2,300 new cases are diagnosed in the EU. The tumors can lead to severe pain, mobility restrictions and strong, persistent exhaustion and are difficult to treat.
Hope for billions in sales
OGSIVEO is already on the market in the USA. Merck had taken over Springworks in the expectation that the company will also receive approval in the EU. Merck boss Belén Garijo relies that the agent becomes a blockbuster medication, i.e. the group brings annual turnover of at least one billion dollars, as the German press agency said in July.
The pharmaceutical division of Merck – including medication for cancer, infertility and multiple sclerosis – recently grew solidly. However, the company is under pressure to launch new funds. Several hopes have failed in clinical studies. Merck recently had to reduce his sales goals in several divisions after a weak second quarter. Merck shares recently developed weakly.
dpa
Source: Stern
