Merck, NewLink Genetics In Ebola Vax Pact

Merck and NewLink Genetics Corp. have entered an exclusive worldwide license agreement to research, develop, manufacture, and distribute NewLink’s investigational rVSV-EBOV Ebola vaccine candidate.
 
Originally developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), rVSV-EBOV is currently in Phase I trials. Pending the results, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to initiate a large randomized Phase III study in early 2015 to evaluate rVSV-EBOV vaccine and another investigational Ebola vaccine co-developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and GlaxoSmithKline.
 
Merck will have exclusive rights to the rVSV-EBOV vaccine candidate as well as any follow-on products. The vaccine candidate is under an exclusive licensing arrangement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of NewLink Genetics. Under these arrangements, PHAC retains non-commercial rights pertaining to the vaccine candidate.
 
“Effective Ebola vaccines will be a critical component of comprehensive prevention and control measures for people at risk of Ebola virus infection and to stem future outbreaks globally,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, president of Merck Vaccines. “Merck is committed to applying our vaccine expertise to address important global health needs and, through our collaboration with NewLink, we hope to advance the public health response to this urgent international health priority.”
 
According to Dr. Charles Link, chairman and chief executive officer of NewLink Genetics, “Merck’s vaccine development expertise, commercial leadership and history of successful strategic alliances make it an ideal partner to expedite the development of rVSV-EBOV and, if demonstrated to be efficacious and well-tolerated, to make it available to individuals and communities at risk of Ebola virus infection around the world.”