Merck is licensing an experimental psoriasis drug to Indian drugmaker Sun Pharmaceuticals, the companies said Wednesday.

 

Sun will pay Merck $80 million upfront and will gain the right to market the drug, called tildrakizumab. Sun will also fund clinical studies and regulatory work on the drug. Merck can get additional payments based on regulatory development and sales targets, but it did not disclose specifics. The Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, company will also get royalties on sales if the drug is approved.

 

The companies said tildrakizumab is in late-stage clinical testing as a treatment for plaque psoriasis. They say the drug could be used as a treatment for psoriatic arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

 

Date: September 17, 2014

Source: Associated Press