Merck Deal Gives Lundbeck US Foothold

Lundbeck's $270 million deal with Merck & Co. to develop and commercialize the Phase III gaboxadol for sleep disorders in the US finally gives the Danish CNS specialist a foothold in the US market. Gaboxadol provides Merck an entry into the burgeoning insomnia market and the deal-the company's largest-ever single-product pact-is indicative of the Big Pharma's growing flexibility and acceptance of external research.

Big Pharma is waking up to the opportunities of treating insomnia. The market for such drugs is often compared to the depression market of the early 1980s. And if the next-generation insomnia treatments are approved and reach sales figures anywhere near the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that revolutionized the treatment of anxiety and depression over the last two decades, the blockbuster bets placed by Pfizer Inc. and, now, Merck & Co. Inc. , will have paid off handsomely.

In the latest such deal, Merck, hungry for late-stage product candidates after several setbacks last year, in mid February paid generously for US co-development and co-promotion rights to H....

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Global Vision

More from In Vivo

The 360 Degrees Of European Biotech Financing In 2025

 
• By 

Almost halfway through 2025, and financing for European biotech could be described as challenging. Market volatility, geopolitical instability and trade barriers all loom large in biotech CEO minds when pitching for funding. In Vivo talked to biotechs and investors to gain a realistic view of the current market for company funding so far this year.

Rising Leaders 2025: Pedro Valencia’s ADC Vision At AbbVie

 
• By 

From chemical engineering to cancer innovation, AbbVie's rising oncology leader is advancing next-generation ADCs to tackle difficult-to-treat tumors with a patient-centered approach.

Leaders At The Frontier: Conversations From SynBioBeta 2025

 
• By 

Mini-profiles of five synthetic biology companies and their leaders from SynBioBeta 2025 reveal how AI integration, data-driven platforms and interdisciplinary teams are revolutionizing drug discovery and manufacturing.