ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has exercised its option with Merck & Co. to co-promote ridaforolimus, an investigational mTOR inhibitor, in the sarcoma indication, upon approval in the U.S.

Under the license agreement dating back to May 2010 for the development, manufacture and commercialization of ridaforolimus in oncology, ARIAD has the option to co-promote ridaforolimus with as much as 20% of the sales effort for the product in all indications in the U.S.

“The decision to co-promote ridaforolimus upon potential launch in 2012 is consistent with our plans to build a fully integrated commercial oncology company and dovetails with the potential launch of ponatinib, our investigational pan-BCR-ABL inhibitor, in patients with resistant or intolerant chronic myeloid leukemia in late 2012 or early 2013,” said Harvey J. Berger, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of ARIAD.