The Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), a spin-off company of Max Planck Innovation, was established a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need, has entered into a strategic partnership with Merck Serono, Darmstadt, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck. The agreement with this prestigious organization for translational research is ongoing over a period of five years. This collaboration brings together the expertise and resources of both organizations to accelerate the discovery of promising lead structures and to improve the development of treatment options in areas with unmet medical needs.

Under the agreement, Merck Serono and LDCs entering into a broader cooperation in drug discovery, which is focused on the discovery of potential leads for multiple drug targets. Merck Serono is building hereby made a successful first cooperation with LDCs in oncology to a strategic partnership that covers all core areas of research and development at Merck Serono. The first project under the new agreement will be performed in the immunology and grew out of an ongoing cooperation between LDCs and the Max Planck researchers and Nobel Laureate Professor Robert Huber.

"Merck Serono is a leader in drug discovery and development and has a strong research base in Germany. The company shares our disciplined approach to pursue the most promising lead compounds, "said Dr. Bert Klebl, managing director of LDC. "We are delighted to expand our collaboration with Merck Serono, a strategic alliance and match our mutually complementary expertise to help us translate academic research at a higher pace in promising drug candidates and have a greater chance of therapeutic success."

"This partnership is a key element of our strategy to have access to alliances with leading partners to enrich our pipeline of novel target molecules and drug candidates," said Susan Jane Herbert, executive vice president, Head of Business Development & Strategy at Merck Serono. "We are confident that the conjunction of strong academic network and high innovation potential of LDCs in the optimization and screening of chemical substances in combination with the experience of Merck Serono in drug development and clinical research has the potential of our joint development of new therapies to accelerate in areas of unmet medical need. "

Both organizations will contribute its experience, infrastructure and resources to lead identification and work closely together in interdisciplinary project teams in order to develop them into pharmaceutical lead compounds. LDC will design, synthesis and screening of compounds in drug discovery forward, while Merck Serono will bring far-reaching pharmacological profile in vitro and in vivo as well as experience in the design of preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetic studies as well. Merck Serono will be responsible for drug development and marketing of selected drug candidates. Accordance with the contractual agreements and LDCs will receive research funding for selected drug candidates milestone payments and royalties. Further financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.