Merck to Buy Tilos Therapeutics for up to $773 Million

Merck announced this week that it has reached an agreement to buy privately held biopharmaceutical company Tilos Therapeutics for as much as $773 million.

Tilos, which develops therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, fibrosis and autoimmune diseases, was founded by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and Partners Innovation Fund, based on discoveries by the laboratory of Dr. Howard Weiner at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

“At Merck we continue to enhance our robust pipeline through active execution of our business development strategy,” remarked Dr. Dean Li, senior vice president, discovery and translational medicine, for Merck Research Laboratories.

He added, “Tilos has developed a compelling portfolio of candidates that employ a novel approach to modulating the potent signaling molecule TGFβ by binding to latency-associated peptide, with potential applications across a range of disease indications.”

As part of the deal, an upfront payment as well as contingent milestone payments are included, Merck said.

“We are proud that the Tilos team has advanced the discoveries of our scientific founders by developing a portfolio of anti-LAP antibodies designed to realize the full potential of TGFβ-modulating therapeutics,” said Dr. Barbara Fox, CEO of Tilos. “This agreement with Merck, an industry leader in biopharmaceutical research and development, provides meaningful validation for our therapeutic approach and best positions our pipeline for broad clinical and commercial success.”

Disclaimer: We have no position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) and have not been compensated for this article.