Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IDRA) said it has achieved a milestone under its worldwide licensing and collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA (MKGAY.PK). The milestone was achieved upon initiation of a Phase 2 trial by Merck KGaA of EMD 1201081, a novel agonist of Toll-like Receptor 9, or TLR9, in combination with cetuximab in second-line cetuximab-naive patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Under the terms of the agreement, the company is entitled to receive a payment of EUR 3.0 million from Merck KGaA.
The company expects to receive the milestone payment of EUR 3.0 million from Merck KGaA during the first quarter of 2010. The clinical trial is being conducted in eight countries, including the U.S.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.