Merck KGaA in alliance with Archemix

A new agreement between Merck KGaA and Archemix is to focus on the development of aptamer therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, it has emerged.

Merck KGaA’s Serono division is to utilise Archemix’s proprietary Selex technology to derive new drugs for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, the company states.

The firm also gains access to a number of Archemix’s lead-stage aptamer programmes in order to obtain product licences.

Meanwhile, the deal gives Archemix the option of exercising a co-development and co-promotion condition on any of the products created by the companies.

Under the terms of the agreement – the second made this year between Merck KGaA and Archemix – any such product would incur an equal sharing of cost and profits for the firms.

Archemix advises that an aptamer is a nucleic acid macromolecule with the capability to bind tightly to a specific molecular target.

The firm adds that an aptamer may be found for almost any enzyme, cytokine, immunoglobulin or viral protein.