Merck Expands Its Arsenal: Modifi Biosciences Acquisition Targets Tough Cancers

Modifi Biosciences, Inc., a pioneer in cancer therapeutics utilizing direct DNA modification technology, has officially announced its acquisition by Merck, which operates as MSD in markets outside the U.S. and Canada. As part of the agreement, Merck, via one of its subsidiaries, has acquired all outstanding shares of Modifi Biosciences for an upfront payment of $30 million. Additionally, the shareholders of Modifi Biosciences could receive milestone payments that may reach up to $1.3 billion.

Founded in 2021 as a spinout from Yale University, Modifi Biosciences has developed an innovative class of small molecules designed to target cancer cells that do not express a crucial DNA repair protein known as O6-methylguanine methyl transferase (MGMT). The research conducted by Modifi Biosciences has gained recognition, with initial findings published by its academic founders in Science in 2022, and subsequent preclinical results demonstrating efficacy across various tumor models, including patient-derived xenografts of gliomas and other cancers characterized by intrinsic DNA repair deficiencies.

Ranjit S. Bindra, MD, PhD, Modifi Biosciences Co-founder, Harvey and Kate Cushing, Professor of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale School of Medicine, and Scientific Director of the Yale Brain Tumor Centre at Smilow Cancer Hospital, said in a statement, “In founding Modifi Biosciences, we sought to radically change the oncology treatment paradigm for cancer patients with glioblastoma and other tumors. We are honored to have Merck recognize the potential of our science, and as an oncology company, they are perfectly positioned to advance our innovations through clinical trials and commercialization.”

Dr. David Weinstock, vice president, discovery oncology, Merck Research Laboratories, mentioned, “DNA repair defects are a frequent hallmark of tumor cells and a major cause of resistance to cancer therapy. The talented Modifi Biosciences team has developed an innovative approach that we believe has potential for treating some of the most refractory cancer types.”

Seth Herzon, PhD, Modifi Biosciences co-founder and the Milton Harris ’29 PhD Professor of Chemistry in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Radiology at the Yale School of Medicine, also commented, “We designed our small molecules to have the ability to uniquely overcome clinical resistance mechanisms that have been known for decades but until now have been non-actionable. Additionally, we created the molecules in a manner which allows them to be rapidly progressed from bench-to-bedside.”