• Approved indications include the treatment of adult patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease for associated non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas, or non-metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNET), not requiring immediate surgery

KIRKLAND, QC, Sept. 5, 2024 /CNW/ - Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced that it has successfully completed negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) for WELIREG^® (belzutifan) on August 30^th. The pCPA negotiates on behalf of the provinces, territories, and federal drug programs, serving as a critical step in bringing WELIREG^® closer to public reimbursement.

Reaching this significant milestone is the outcome of close collaboration with the pCPA and highlights the necessity to progress quickly towards public reimbursement. The next step will involve provincial and territorial governments, and federal drug programs implementing reimbursement for their respective jurisdictions. 

"WELIREG^® marks the first systemic therapy for VHL-associated tumours in Canada," commented Jess Pearson, Chair of the Canadian VHL Alliance. "Completion of this negotiation means we are one step closer to bringing more treatment options to patients impacted by this disease, with the potential to improve quality of life."

Merck Canada is committed to bringing innovative medicines to patients in need and will work closely with government bodies to ensure WELIREG^® is broadly available to Canadian patients through public drug plans.

About von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)

VHL disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by a mutation on the third chromosome which is known as the tumour repressor gene and impacts approximately 1 in 36,000 individuals. The condition presents as the growth of tumours or cysts in various parts of the body, most often affecting the eyes, lower part of the brain, spine, kidneys, pancreas and adrenal glands. Symptoms depend on the location and size of the tumours, with a high risk of eventual organ dysfunction and metastasis. Current management involves active surveillance and surgical removal for larger tumours, with radiation as a potential treatment for certain types of tumours.

About Merck

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable, and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca and connect with us on LinkedIn and X @MerckCanada.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

^® Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Used under license.
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