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Nature of the Business
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Nature of the Business

1. Nature of the Business

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that is outthinking cancer to ensure that patients and their families live fulfilling lives. The Company’s mission is to transform cancer care through the smart design and development of targeted solutions based on a deep understanding of cancer pathways and biological markers. All of the Company’s product candidates, including three in clinical studies and several others in preclinical development, fit into the Company’s strategy of (1) understanding the biological problems the Company is trying to solve, (2) designing specific solutions and (3) developing those solutions for biomarker-selected patients. This three-pronged strategy seeks to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

On April 3, 2017, the Company announced that it commenced operating as a new, refocused research and clinical development company in connection with the completion of its previously announced transaction (the “Asset Sale”) with Ipsen S.A. (“Ipsen”). Pursuant to the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2017 (the “Asset Sale Agreement”), between the Company and Ipsen, the Company sold to Ipsen its right, title and interest in the non-cash assets, equipment, inventory, contracts and intellectual property primarily related to or used in the Company’s business operations and activities involving or relating to developing, manufacturing and commercializing ONIVYDE, the Company’s first commercial product, and MM-436 (the “Commercial Business”). The Company received $575.0 million in cash (subject to a working capital adjustment) upon the closing of the Asset Sale and is eligible to receive up to $450.0 million in additional regulatory approval-based milestone payments. The Company also retained the rights to receive net milestone payments of up to $33.0 million that may become payable pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement with Baxalta Incorporated, Baxalta US Inc. and Baxalta GmbH (collectively, “Baxalta”) for the ex-U.S. development and commercialization of ONIVYDE.

The Company’s non-commercial assets, including its clinical and preclinical development programs (the “Pipeline Business”), were not included in the Asset Sale and remain assets of the Company. As of the closing of the Asset Sale, the Company’s most advanced programs are as follows:

 

MM-121 (seribantumab), a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to the ErbB3 (HER3) receptor and targets heregulin positive cancers. The Company is currently conducting the Phase 2 randomized SHERLOC clinical trial evaluating MM-121 in heregulin positive non-small cell lung cancer patients and plans to initiate another Phase 2 randomized clinical trial in 2017 in heregulin positive, hormone receptor positive, ErbB2 (HER2) negative, metastatic breast cancer patients;

 

MM-141 (istiratumab), a fully human bispecific tetravalent monoclonal antibody designed to block tumor survival signals by targeting receptor complexes containing the insulin-like growth factor 1 (“IGF-1”) receptor and ErbB3 (HER3) cell surface receptors. The Company is currently conducting the Phase 2 randomized CARRIE clinical trial evaluating MM-141 in previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with high levels of free IGF-1 in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine; and

 

MM-310, an antibody-directed nanotherapeutic (“ADN”) that contains a novel prodrug of the highly potent chemotherapy docetaxel and targets the ephrin receptor A2 (“EphA2”) receptor, which is highly expressed in most solid tumor types. MM-310 was designed to improve the therapeutic window of docetaxel in major oncology indications, such as prostate, ovarian, bladder, gastric, pancreatic and lung cancers. The Company initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate safety and preliminary activity of MM-310 in the first quarter of 2017.

In addition to its clinical-stage programs, the Company has several product candidates in preclinical development and a discovery effort advancing additional candidate medicines.

The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common to companies in the biopharmaceutical industry, including, among other things, its ability to secure additional capital to fund operations, success of clinical trials, development by competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on collaborative arrangements, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations and dependence on key personnel. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of capital, adequate personnel, infrastructure and extensive compliance reporting capabilities.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis which assumes that the Company will continue as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. Until such time, if ever, as the Company can generate sufficient product revenues, the Company expects to finance its cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, licensing arrangements and other marketing and distribution arrangements. The Company could also engage in discussions with third parties regarding partnerships, joint ventures, combinations or divestitures of one or more of its businesses as it seeks to further the development of its research programs, improve its cash position and maximize stockholder value.