Merck KGaA continues ChemGenex partnership

Published: 19-Jan-2006

Following the successful completion of three research contracts in target discovery, Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany) and its long-term Australian partner ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals have signed a new three-year alliance agreement.


Following the successful completion of three research contracts in target discovery, Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany) and its long-term Australian partner ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals have signed a new three-year alliance agreement.

The deal will see ChemGenex provide pre-clinical support in the fields of diabetes, insulin resistance and complications until 31 December 2008. The company will receive a total retainer fee of approximately A$1m, along with potential additional payments depending on the amount and type of pre-clinical support provided.

Dr. Inge Lues, executive vice president of pre-clinical r&d at Merck, said: 'We are very familiar with ChemGenex's animal model and want to maintain access to these capabilities for pre-clinical development of a number of interesting potential small molecule therapeutics.'

Greg Collier PhD, ceo ChemGenex, said the company is 'excited by the opportunity to internally progress the pre-clinical development of exciting targets such as SEPS1', and is hopeful of new partnership opportunities arising around several of the company's proprietary targets.

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