KalVista Provides Update on Merck Collaboration

During the Company Showcase 3 session at OIS@AAO 2017 KalVista Pharmaceuticals CEO Andrew Crockett provided an update on the company’s collaboration with Merck for KVD001, KalVista’s intravitreal diabetic macular edema (DME) candidate, as well as future oral agents KalVista has developed for DME. KalVista is developing oral plasma kallikrein inhibitors, which, in DME, act as mediators independent of vascular endothelial growth factor. DME patients have elevated levels of plasma kallikrein in the vitreous. Crockett noted Merck holds two options to acquire KVD001 and/or oral DME assets until an undisclosed date, but KalVista retains full ownership and control until Merck exercises those options. KalVista retains full rights to its portfolio of oral plasma kallikrein inhibitors to treat orphan disease hereditary angioedema (HAE), he added.