Merck Serono-backed research consortium receives new funding

Merck Serono has welcomed a fresh commitment of funding to support the research into schistosomiasis therapies it is developing as part of a public-private partnership.

The company is working with Astellas and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute to develop a new paediatric therapy to combat the disease among preschool children as part of the TI Pharma-coordinated consortium.

A donation of $1.15 million (738,100 pounds) is being provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation directly to Merck Serono to support various research and development activities prior to phase I clinical trials.

Schistosomiasis is a severe chronic inflammatory disease caused by parasitic worms and is endemic in 78 developing nations.

Annalisa Jenkins, chair of the consortium board and head of global drug development and medical at Merck Serono, said: "The support of the Gates Foundation is a key step in moving forward with new options for this highly vulnerable population with the ultimate goal of elimination."

Earlier this week, the company entered into a new research alliance with the UK's Cancer Research Technology and the Institute of Cancer Research in London to create new drugs that block the WNT signalling pathway.