Merck Serono licenses reproductive medicine compound to PregLem

Merck Serono has granted a licence to women's reproductive health specialist PregLem to develop one of its compounds as a treatment for post-operative adhesions and endometriosis.

The pharmaceutical firm has received an undisclosed fee in exchange for exclusive worldwide licensing rights to bentamapimod, an orally-active new jun kinase inhibitor drug.

It is to be developed specifically for patients with tubal ligation or comparable effective contraception, who are often susceptible to risks such as pelvic pain and infertility as a result of adhesion formation and endometriosis.

Currently, there are no pharmacological products available for use against these conditions, while treatment with medical devices has often proven to be impractical and ineffective.

Ernest Loumaye, chief executive officer and cofounder of PregLem, said: "Bentamapimod is an innovative compound with the potential of a unique combination of anti-adhesions and anti-endometriosis properties, therefore presenting a significant opportunity in addressing this global market need."

Last month, Merck Serono was granted approval from Russian healthcare regulators for its new multiple sclerosis treatment Cladribine Tablets, which is the first ever global approval for an oral disease-modifying therapy of this kind.