March 8 (Reuters) – Opko Health Inc (OPK.O) mentioned on Wednesday it signed a take care of Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) doubtlessly price as much as $922.5 million for its experimental Epstein-Barr virus vaccine.

Shares of Opko rose as a lot as 24%, earlier than paring beneficial properties to commerce 9.4% increased at $1.16.

Merck will take over the medical and regulatory actions associated to the vaccine, as nicely its commercialization as soon as the drugmaker information a joint software with Opko unit ModeX Therapeutics to check it in people, the corporate mentioned.

Opko will obtain an upfront fee of $50 million and is eligible for milestone funds of as much as $872.5 million, plus royalties, on world gross sales.

There is at present no vaccine for the Epstein-Barr virus, which is the main reason for mononucleosis, or mono, generally known as the “kissing disease”.

Reporting by Aditya Samal in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai

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