F-star Therapeutics Says Merck KGaA Exercises Option in Collaboration

By Michael Dabaie

F-star Therapeutics Inc. said Merck KGaA exercised a third option in the companies' immuno-oncology collaboration.

Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company F-star said Ares Trading S.A., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, exercised its option to develop an additional bispecific program under the ongoing collaboration with F-star.

This is the third option to license a preclinical program that Merck KGaA has exercised.

Merck KGaA and F-star originally entered into a collaboration agreement in 2019 with the first option to license. In July 2020, Merck KGaA brought the second program from the collaboration into its pipeline.

F-star said an undisclosed option exercise payment will be made to it. Merck KGaA will pay future success-based milestones and royalties on any net sales, resulting from programs covered by the agreement.

Write to Michael Dabaie at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

04-01-21 0844ET