Merck Acquires 9.9% Stake In KalVista

(RTTNews) - KalVista Pharmaceuticals Inc. (KALV) said that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, through a subsidiary, for KVD001, the Company's investigational intravitreal (IVT) injection candidate currently in development for potential treatment of diabetic macular edema or DME, as well as future oral DME compounds based upon plasma kallikrein inhibition.

As per the terms of the agreement, KalVista has granted to Merck certain rights including an option to acquire KVD001 through a period following completion of the Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial that KalVista intends to commence later this year. KalVista also has granted to Merck a similar option to acquire investigational orally delivered molecules for DME that KalVista will continue to develop as part of its ongoing research and development activities.

As consideration for the agreement, Merck will pay to KalVista a $37 million non-refundable upfront fee. KalVista is further eligible to receive payments associated with the exercise of the options by Merck and the achievement of milestones for each program that potentially total up to $715 million.

KalVista also will receive tiered royalties on net sales for therapeutic candidates commercialized under this agreement. KalVista will fund and retain control over the planned Phase 2 clinical trial of KVD001 as well as development of the investigational oral DME compounds through Phase 2, unless Merck exercises its options earlier.

In addition to the collaboration, KalVista has entered into a separate $9.1 million private placement transaction with Merck under which Merck has acquired 1,070,589 shares of KalVista, representing a 9.9% ownership stake, at a price of $8.50 per share.

The agreement with Merck covers only the investigational IVT and oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor programs for DME. KalVista retains full rights to its oral hereditary angioedema (HAE) portfolio, and will have the opportunity to select and develop future oral HAE compounds. KalVista intends to continue to aggressively pursue its efforts to develop a best-in-class oral therapy for HAE, as well as additional programs focused on other proteases.