Merck Serono announces new F-Star collaboration

Merck Serono has announced a new collaboration with F-Star that will focus on the development of new therapies for inflammatory diseases.

The partnership will see the companies researching and commercialising new antibody-derived therapeutics by utilising F-Star's modular antibody technology, with the agreement covering up to three therapeutic targets.

Under the terms of the deal, F-Star will be paid an initial technology access fee and research-based funding, as well as various potential milestone-based payments that could reach an aggregate of 492 million euros (427 million pounds).

In return, Merck Serono will retain exclusive worldwide development and commercialisation rights to the mono-specific Fc-based and bi-specific IgG-based targeted biologics.

Susan Herbert, head of portfolio development at Merck Serono, said: "We are very pleased to see our investment in F-Star through Merck Serono Ventures mature into a strategic collaboration, which reinforces our commitment to deliver innovative treatments in the area of inflammatory diseases."

Earlier this week, the company announced that it is creating a new oncology chair scheme as part of its ongoing working partnership with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.