Idera, Merck KGaA to Develop TLR9 Agonists

Idera Pharmaceuticals has signed an agreement with Germany’s Merck KGaA for the development and commercialization of Idera’s Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists to treat cancer.

Idera has agreed to license the therapeutic oncology applications, excluding cancer vaccines, of its lead TLR9 agonists, IMO-2055 and IMO-2125. In addition, Idera and Merck KGaA will identify a specified number of novel, follow-on TLR9 agonists.

Merck KGaA has agreed to pay an upfront license fee of $40 million to Idera, which also is eligible to receive milestone payments of up to $381 million, according to Idera.