Merck Sharp and Dohme and Ra Pharmaceuticals announce collaboration

Merck Sharp and Dohme has announced a new collaboration with Ra Pharmaceuticals to study and develop a new class of compounds against targets in multiple therapeutic areas.

The study will focus on Cyclomimetics, compounds created using Ra Pharmaceuticals' Extreme Diversity platform that offer the diversity and specificity of antibodies while retaining the attributes of small molecules.

They have novel properties that enable the targeting of protein-protein interactions, thus making them potentially useful in a wide range of disease indications.

Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Ra Pharmaceuticals will receive up to $200 million (132.41 million pounds) from its partner based on the progress and success of the research.

Dr Richard Tillyer, head of drug discovery and preclinical sciences at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "This agreement  with Ra Pharmaceuticals underscores our strategy of collaborating with scientists who have developed innovative new technologies with the potential  to complement and enhance our original research and product portfolio."

This comes after Merck Sharp and Dohme announced plans last month to work with Luminex on the development of a companion diagnostic device for a new Alzheimer's disease treatment.