MSD Merck on the lookout for new opportunities within immuno
In addition to establishing MSD’s intent not to sit on the sidelines following its inroads into immunology with last year’s $10.8bn acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences, Dr Barr also laid out the company’s goal to transform how disease is treated in the sector. Speaking on the Prometheus deal, Dr Barr spoke of a treatment paradigm shift utilising “a proper assessment of biological markers, of combinations, of segmented patients by specific markers,” stepping away from the current try-and-see “serial single therapies” model.
Acquiring Prometheus has allowed MSD stronger positioning in the sector, with access to a “biomarker selection strategy, [a biomarker] annotated database, and a lot of early clinical and preclinical candidates,” said Dr Barr. It should also be noted that MSD, through its actions in immunology, diversifies its holdings away from its established standing in cancer, which also allows the company to utilise its “oncology knowledge and bring that in to create a new approach” to IBD, Dr Barr said.
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