Merck Sharpe and Dohme highlights new infectious disease drugs

Merck Sharpe and Dohme is to highlight its portfolio of new treatments for infectious disease at a forthcoming medical industry conference.

The company will attend the 50th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in order to present clinical data on a number of late stage compounds, as well as results from studies of several other investigational agents.

Among the compounds it will be highlighting is the beta-lactamase inhibitor MK-7655, which has shown efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as the antifungal candidate MK-3118.

Dr Roger Pomerantz, senior vice-president and global franchise head for infectious diseases at Merck Research Laboratories, said the development of these treatments is essential given the emergence of new pathogens and drug-resistant bacterial strains.

He added that the company "remains committed to the development of a broad portfolio of investigational anti-infective agents designed to treat viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections".

Last week, the company announced that it has been granted European regulatory approval for its drug Sycrest as a therapy for manic episodes among bipolar I disorder sufferers.