Merck Serono and Opexa to ally on MS drug development

Merck Serono has announced a new development and commercialisation alliance with Opexa Therapeutics focusing on a potential first-in-class personalised T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS).

The drug Tcelna has been created by Opexa and is currently in phase IIb clinical testing among patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), having shown potential as a means of addressing the individual needs of specific disease profiles.

It has received fast track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration as a potential therapy for SPMS and could offer a new solution in an area of high unmet medical need.

Susan Herbert, head of global business development and strategy at Merck Serono, said: "This agreement illustrates Merck Serono's commitment to employ creative ways of accessing external innovation to develop potential next-generation multiple sclerosis treatments."

Last month, the company announced a new inflammatory disease research alliance with New York's Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, which will focus on the development of new therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.