“Working with Merck in this discovery collaboration, we identified and successfully validated essential tumor maintenance genes suitable for development of small molecule agents in multiple AVEO cancer models,” stated Tuan Ha-Ngoc, president and CEO of AVEO.
Merck says its first collaboration with AVEO led to the discovery of novel candidate drug targets and contributed significantly to its oncology therapeutics discovery efforts. “We look forward to continuing to work with AVEO on our second collaborative effort, which is focused on identifying genetic profiles that correlate with drug response to more effectively guide the clinical development of Merck’s cancer compounds,” said Giulio Draetta, head of oncology basic research.