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news.Merck Serono has signed an agreement with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) to secure the rights to MMV's investigational antimalarial compound, DDD107498.
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DDD107498 was developed as part of a collaboration between MMV and the University of Dundee Drug Discovery Unit, led by Prof Ian Gilbert and Dr Kevin Read.
The objective of the deal is to show whether the investigational compound exerts activity on a number of malaria parasite lifecycle stages, and remains active in the body long enough to offer potential as a single-dose treatment against the most severe strains of malaria.
Merck Serono Research & Development executive vice-president, global head Luciano Rossetti said: "This agreement strengthens our Global Health research program and our ongoing collaboration with Medicines for Malaria Venture.
"MMV is known worldwide for its major contribution to delivering innovative antimalarial treatments to the most vulnerable populations suffering from this disease, and at Merck Serono we share this goal."
Under the deal, Merck Serono will be responsible for development and commercialization of the compound, while MMV will provide expertise in the field of malaria drug development, including its clinical and delivery expertise.
MMV will also provide access to its public and private sector networks in malaria-endemic countries.