June 5 Quick Takes: Merck, Tetraphase-Melinta, Apeiron, Neurasic, Jounce, Genmab-J&J

UCB buying Engage for $125M
UCB S.A. (Euronext:UCB) acquired Engage Therapeutics Inc. Friday, gaining Staccato alprazolam, a drug-inhaler combo in Phase II testing for the rapid termination of epileptic seizures. Engage will receive $125 million up front and is eligible for up to $145 million in milestones.

Expanded label for Merck’s Recarbrio
FDA approved Recarbrio relebactam/imipenem/cilastatin from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to treat hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia in adults. The antibiotic combo is already approved for complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections...