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news.Biopharmaceutical company Lycera and Merck, referred to as MSD outside the US and Canada, have collaborated to discover and develop and commercialize therapies targeting a range of immune-mediated disorders.
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The collaboration will focus on developing small-molecule therapies directed to select new targets to treat autoimmune diseases.
Lycera president and chief executive officer Kathleen Metters said, "Lycera’s proven track record in accelerating early stage programs to development candidate status holds the potential to fuel Merck’s early stage pipeline."
According to the deal, Merck will carry out clinical development activities and possess global marketing and commercialization rights to products resulting from the partnership.
Lycera will earn an upfront payment and research funding and is eligible for more than $300m under research, development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, in addition to royalty payments, development and sales milestones.
Merck Research Laboratories global scientific strategy senior vice president Rupert Vessey said, "Lycera’s innovative capabilities and productivity, exemplified by the ROR?t program on which we currently collaborate, make them ideal partners for Merck in this area of drug discovery."
Additional financial details were not revealed.