Newron will now re-assess all the opportunities for safinamide including re-partnering the compound at some stage.
Newron can also pursue marketing of this new chemical entity for Parkinson’s disease in selected territories.
According to the agreement signed in 2006, Merck Serono has confirmed that it will meet its contractual and ethical commitments concerning the ongoing clinical development program for safinamide until April 2012.
Merck said the move has been made on strategic considerations and re-prioritization of its R&D pipeline, and is not based on any new efficacy or safety findings with safinamide.