ARIAD Announces Election to Co-Promote Ridaforolimus in Sarcoma Indication in U.S. upon Approval

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ARIA today announced that it has elected to exercise its option with Merck & Co., Inc. MRK, to co-promote ridaforolimus, an investigational mTOR inhibitor, in the sarcoma indication upon its potential approval in the United States next year.

Based on the terms of the license agreement that ARIAD and Merck entered into in May 2010 for the development, manufacture and commercialization of ridaforolimus in oncology, ARIAD has the option to co-promote ridaforolimus with up to 20 percent of the sales effort for the product in all indications in the U.S., and Merck will compensate ARIAD for its sales efforts.