---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000944809-23-000015"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "OPK"
cik: "0000944809"
company_name: "OPKO HEALTH, INC."
filed_at: "2023-03-08T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-18T09:12:36.164534+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# OPKO subsidiary ModeX licenses EBV vaccine to Merck for $50M upfront, up to $872.5M milestones

## Summary
- ModeX grants Merck exclusive worldwide license for MDX-2201, a preclinical nanoparticle vaccine targeting EBV.
- OPKO receives $50M upfront; eligible for up to $872.5M in development and commercial milestones.
- Tiered royalties from high single digits to low double digits on global sales of the vaccine product.
- Joint research program until IND filing; Merck to lead clinical development and commercialization thereafter.
- A portion of payments may be payable to Sanofi under ModeX's prior in-license agreement.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000944809-23-000015
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: OPK
- cik: 0000944809
- company_name: OPKO HEALTH, INC.
- filed_at: 2023-03-08T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/944809/000094480923000015/0000944809-23-000015-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/944809/000094480923000015/opk-20230308.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000944809-23-000015
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000944809-23-000015.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000944809-23-000015.txt

## Key facts
- Material Agreements
  OPKO HEALTH, INC. entered into License and Research Collaboration Agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC valued at $50 million initial payment, up to $872.5 million milestones, tiered royalties high single digits to (effective 2023-03-08).
  - Action: entry
  - Agreement: license
  - Counterparty: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
  - Value: $50 million initial payment, up to $872.5 million milestones, tiered royalties high single digits to
  - Effective: 2023-03-08
  source text: On March 8, 2023, ModeX Therapeutics, Inc. (“ ModeX ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of OPKO Health, Inc. (“ OPKO ”), OPKO with respect to certain sections, and Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC (“ Merck ”) entered into a License and Research Collaboration Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) pursuant to which Merck obtained from ModeX a license to certain patent rights and know-how of ModeX.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/944809/000094480923000015/0000944809-23-000015-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.