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KalVista Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on Diabetic Macular Edema Programs
– Merck Option Agreement Expires – CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & SALISBURY, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KALV), a clinical stage
About this update from Kalvista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n– Merck Option Agreement Expires –\n\n CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & SALISBURY, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nKalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KALV), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule protease inhibitors, today announced that the option agreement between KalVista and Merck related to intravitreal diabetic macular edema (DME) candidate KVD001 and future oral DME molecules has expired.\n\n\n“We appreciate Merck’s willingness to work with us on the advancement of plasma kallikrein inhibitors for DME, and we respect their decision not to move forward,” said Andrew Crockett, Chief Executive Officer of KalVista. “However, we believe that the efficacy signal observed supports the relevance of this target, and that there is a clear market opportunity for KVD001 and oral plasma kallikrein inhibitors in patients with this disease. Our focus in DME has always been to develop products that help patients protect their vision, and we will continue in this pursuit.”\n\n\nUnder the terms of the option agreement, Merck paid a $37 million non-refundable upfront fee to KalVista. This agreement with Merck only covered the investigational intravitreal candidate, KVD001, and future oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor programs for DME. With the option expiration, KalVista has no obligations to Merck, and retains full ownership of all of its DME intellectual property in addition to its oral hereditary angioedema (HAE) portfolio. KalVista intends to continue to aggressively pursue its efforts to develop multiple best-in-class oral plasma kallikrein therapies for HAE, as well as additional programs focused on other proteases.\n\n\nAbout KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.\nKalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule protease inhibitors for diseases with significant unmet need. The initial focus is on inhibitors of plasma kallikrein, which is an important component of the body’s inflammatory response and which, in excess, can lead to increased vascular permeability, edema and inflammation. KalVista has developed a proprietary portfolio of novel, small molecule plasma kallikrein inhibitors initially targeting hereditary angioedema (HAE) and diabetic macular edema (DME). The Company has create...