Over $1.3 billion acquisition proceeds! Merck's small molecule cancer drug starts Phase 3 clinical trials in China
Merck has launched a new drug, MK-3543 (bomedemstat), for the treatment of primary thrombocytosis, which has initiated Phase 3 clinical trials in China. Merck acquired Imago BioSciences for $1.35 billion in 2022, gaining access to this candidate drug. This oral medication is an LSD1 inhibitor that has shown anti-tumor effects in preclinical studies. Merck is conducting crucial Phase 3 randomized clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy in patients with primary thrombocytosis. The research initiated in China will assess the drug's efficacy and safety
According to the latest disclosure on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registration and Information Disclosure Platform, Merck (MRK.US) has initiated Phase 3 clinical trials for the oral new drug MK-3543 (bomedemstat) used to treat primary thrombocytosis. Bomedemstat is an oral lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibitor. Merck acquired this candidate drug for approximately $1.35 billion in 2022 through the acquisition of Imago BioSciences.
It is reported that lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is an epigenetic regulatory protein. It is commonly overexpressed in many types of cancers, leading to inhibition of cellular differentiation at the level of cells and increased proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. Bomedemstat is one of the products with rapid development progress in the field of LSD1-targeted inhibitors. Initially developed by Imago BioSciences, Merck acquired Imago for approximately $1.35 billion in 2022, thereby obtaining this candidate drug.
In preclinical studies, bomedemstat has shown strong anti-tumor efficacy in a range of myeloid malignancies. Moreover, the product has previously been granted orphan drug designation and fast track designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of essential thrombocythemia (ET) and myelofibrosis (MF), respectively.
Public information indicates that Merck is conducting crucial Phase 3 randomized clinical trials for bomedemstat to evaluate its efficacy in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET). The initiation of Phase 3 studies in China also means that the efficacy and safety of this drug will be studied in the Chinese patient population