Merck Acquires Calporta for $576 Million to Advance Preclinical TRPML1 Agonist for Neurodegenerative Diseases

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that on November 13, 2019 (local time), the global research-based pharmaceutical company Merck announced the acquisition of the biotechnology startup Calporta. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will pay $576 million for Calporta, including undisclosed upfront and milestone payments.

Through this acquisition, Merck has acquired the rights to Calporta’s preclinical TRPML1 agonist, a drug considered a potential therapy for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease.

Calporta was established through a collaboration between GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Avalon Ventures, and is located within COI Pharmaceuticals, an innovation community founded by Avalon Ventures. As part of the partnership, GSK had the option to acquire Calporta but chose to waive this right earlier this year, thereby paving the way for Merck to acquire the company.

Calporta Therapeutics focuses on the development of selective small-molecule agonists targeting TRPML1, a compound believed to modulate lysosomal function by promoting autophagy and lysosomal exocytosis. The company states that the lysosome is a cellular compartment involved in the degradation and recycling of cellular waste, such as lipids, proteins, and other macromolecules. Impaired TRPML1 function is associated with various pathological conditions, including Niemann-Pick disease type C, muscular dystrophy, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Calporta Therapeutics’ preclinical TRPML1 agonist is being evaluated for its potential to treat various lysosomal storage disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. It is hypothesized that small-molecule activation of TRPML1 signaling can restore lysosomal function and cellular homeostasis.

Jay Lichter is the Managing Director of Avalon Ventures and the CEO of COI Pharmaceuticals. Jay Lichter stated that TRPML1 was identified in 2014 as a key target for improving lysosomal function. In a statement, Jay Lichter said, “We recognized the potential of treating multiple diseases by activating this ion channel. We established Calporta Therapeutics in early 2015, and now, four years later, we have reached an agreement with Merck, an industry leader in biopharmaceutical research and development, which will facilitate advancing these therapies into clinical trials and to patients.”

Fiona Marshall, Vice President of Merck Research Laboratories, stated in a brief announcement that growing evidence indicates the accumulation of toxic proteins is a common mechanism underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer’s disease. Merck is pleased to conduct its own research to evaluate the potential of TRPML1 agonists as agents that “activate the brain’s natural clearance mechanisms for removing toxic proteins.”

Merck Group, founded in 1668 with a history of approximately 350 years, is headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany. The group is primarily dedicated to innovative pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and advanced functional materials technologies. Driven by technology, Merck consistently creates value for patients and customers. Merck’s business operations are mainly divided into four segments: Merck Serono, Consumer Health, MilliporeSigma, and Performance Materials.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), established in 1929 and headquartered in the United Kingdom, is a science-led global healthcare company. With over 10,000 employees, GSK is dedicated to the research and development of innovative pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and consumer health products. The company’s mission is to discover new ways to prevent and treat diseases, thereby improving human health and quality of life while promoting the sustainable development of the healthcare industry.

(Compiled by Wang Fang)