Merck KGaA pitches in an extra $3M to support Opexa's PhIIb for MS

After gaining an option on Opexa's experimental drug for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis for only $5 million, Merck KGaA's Serono division has come up with an extra $3 million to support the biotech's ongoing Phase IIb study. The two companies struck the option deal back in 2013 on Tcelna (imilecleucel-T). It remains one of Merck KGaA's last investments in a scaled-down program for MS as the company also backs away from early-stage R&D in the field. Release