Sanofi-aventis and Merck Serono to partner on cancer research

Sanofi-aventis has announced plans to collaborate with Merck Serono on the discovery of new approaches to treating cancer.

A worldwide research and development agreement has been signed with the Merck KGaA group that will see the two pharmaceutical firms investigate experimental combinations of agents that may be able to block specific pathways in cancer cells.

These combinations involve a number of developmental compounds from the two manufacturers, with each firm set to conduct a phase I dose escalation study of the product candidates as part of the alliance.

It is hoped that the partnership will yield a number of novel targeted oncology treatments, which could offer potential in the field of personalised medicine.

Dr Debasish Roychowdhury, senior vice-president and head of global oncology at Sanofi-aventis, said: "Combining these promising molecules makes eminent sense and we are excited to partner with Merck Serono."

This comes in the same week that Sanofi-aventis named Dr Elias Zerhouni as its new president of global research and development, commencing in January 2011.