Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Total loss: Merck's sole strategic rationale for NovaCardia — rolofylline — failed Phase III two years after close with worse safety than placebo, after Merck had already written off 89% of the deal value as acquired in-process R&D.
Full analysis, sources & comparables →Merck's $350M NovaCardia deal hands it a Phase 3 cardiorenal asset in KW-3902, a selective adenosine A1 antagonist with potential to differentiate from loop…
Rolofylline failed to beat placebo in the pivotal PROTECT trial and showed higher rates of seizures and stroke; Merck terminated development on September…
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$350M + cash on hand (~$366M). KW-3902 Phase 3 acute heart failure. Source: Fierce Biotech, BioSpace, Contract Pharma.
Total loss: Merck's sole strategic rationale for NovaCardia — rolofylline — failed Phase III two years after close with worse safety than placebo, after Merck had already written off 89% of the deal value as acquired in-process R&D.
Assessment window: 15yr post-close.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merck & Co. Inc. / NovaCardia Inc. (this deal) | 2007 | $366M | 13 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Acceleron Pharma Inc. | 2021 | $11.5B | 90 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Peloton Therapeutics Inc. | 2019 | $2.2B | 88 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / AstraZeneca PLC | 2017 | $8.5B | 87 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Moderna, Inc. | 2022 | $250M | 86 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Moderna, Inc. | 2016 | $250M | 84 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Eisai Co., Ltd. | 2018 | $5.8B | 83 |
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More: 2007 deals · Merck & Co. Inc. deals