Weight Watchers and Merck Collaborate to Help Physicians Fight Obesity Through Lifestyle Management Approach

October 13, 2010 – Weight Watchers International, Inc., the world's leading provider of weight management services, and Merck, a global healthcare leader, announced an innovative collaboration focused on fighting obesity. The two companies will launch an initiative in which Merck will provide physicians and other health care providers with educational information about the Weight Watchers® program and its underlying clinical evidence to assist doctors in addressing the ongoing weight management needs of their patients.


“Recently published research at the 2010 International Congress on Obesity demonstrated that the combination of the proven Weight Watchers behavior modification approach with physician’s encouragement provides a significant increase in patient adherence to weight-loss solutions and greater weight loss success than just standard physician care alone. Weight loss is an important component of preventing and addressing many health conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. Because our weight management approach helps educate people on how to live a healthy lifestyle while allowing flexibility, the Weight Watchers program delivers real weight loss results. Collaborating with Merck will enable us to arm physicians with a comprehensive, sustainable, scalable and non-pharmaceutical solution for weight loss designed to help improve the overall health of their patients... Merck's Press Release -

Envoy Therapeutics : Diabetes and Obesity Collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc.

January 26, 2010 - Envoy Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has entered into a multi-year research collaboration agreement with an affiliate of Merck & Co., Inc. to discover novel diabetes and obesity drug targets.

Under the agreement, Envoy will use its proprietary bacTRAP® technology to identify proteins expressed specifically in certain cell types. Merck will then work to identify and develop compounds that modulate protein targets with therapeutic potential for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Merck will pay Envoy an upfront fee and research funding. In addition, Envoy is eligible to receive payments upon achievement of certain milestones associated with development of drug candidates and royalties on any products derived from the collaboration... [PDF] Envoy Therapeutics' Press Release - Merck's Press Release -

Merck Discontinues Development of Investigational Medicine Taranabant for Obesity

Oct. 2, 2008 - Merck & Co., Inc. will not seek regulatory approval for taranabant, an investigational medicine, to treat obesity and is discontinuing its Phase III clinical development program for taranabant for obesity.

"Available Phase III data showed that both efficacy and adverse events were dose related, with greater efficacy and more adverse events in the higher doses. Therefore, after careful consideration, we determined that the overall profile of taranabant does not support further development for obesity... Merck & Co's Press Release -

Merck : Phase III Data Showed Taranabant, its Investigational Medicine to Treat Obesity, Led to Statistically Significant Weight Loss

March 31, 2008 - Fifty-two week results of a two-year Phase III study of taranabant, Merck's investigational cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) blocker, showed patients experienced statistically significant weight loss when taking the drug in combination with diet and exercise. These findings were presented today at the 57th annual scientific session of the American College of Cardiology... Merck's Press Release -

Merck, Innovative Research Method to Identify Changes in Gene Networks Linked to Obesity

March 17, 2008 - Merck & Co., Inc. announced the publication of two studies providing evidence that genetic susceptibility to obesity involves changes in entire networks of genes and is not limited to mutations in several specific genes. The work also showcases how genomic techniques may be used to understand the complex changes at the root of common diseases where multiple complex genetic changes are thought to be involved. The studies were published online in the peer-reviewed journal Nature.
Scientists at Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) and their collaborators performed genetic and gene expression analysis of tissues from a model of metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes) and a human population known to be susceptible to obesity. The resulting data were analyzed using powerful computational methods that integrate data from several sources to identify networks of gene interactions altered in individuals susceptible to obesity... Merck's Press Release -

Marcadia Biotech and Merck, strategic collaboration

March 6, 2008 – Marcadia Biotech, Inc., a privately held drug development company, announced a strategic collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. to jointly discover, develop and commercialize novel biopharmaceutical therapies targeting the glucagon and related receptors for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

“Merck is a world leader in the discovery of breakthrough medicines and has proven expertise in the development and commercialization of drugs that treat metabolic diseases,” said Fritz French, CEO of Marcadia. “We are excited about the opportunity to significantly leverage the research we have accomplished to date through this collaboration with Merck.”... [PDF] Marcadia Biotech's Press Release -