Cenix BioScience GmbH (Dresden), the leading specialist in advanced RNA interference (RNAi)-based research services, and Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany), a leading global pharmaceutical company, announced that they have signed a framework research agreement securing Cenix services to enhance and accelerate Merck target discovery and validation efforts in oncology, with an option to expand in several human disease programmes.

Cenix will apply its well-established expertise combining high throughput (HT), genome-scale screening applications of RNAi with high content phenotypic analyses in cultured human cells to discover and validate new therapeutic targets, using assays co-designed with Merck scientists. By yielding direct and highly predictive insights into the cellular functions and loss-of-function phenotypes of analyzed genes, this RNAi-based approach will enable Merck to efficiently select targets with higher confidence for driving their drug development programmes.

"As this project represents a very careful and well-thought-out design process, we are delighted to undertake it with Merck" noted Dr. Christophe Echeverri, CEO/CSO of Cenix BioScience. "We look forward to vindicating the recognition and trust shown by our Merck colleagues in allowing Cenix to provide them with the most advanced and mature technology, infrastructure and expertise for performing efficient and fast HT-RNAi-based drug discovery."