Merck Serono Extends Research Collaboration With INSPE

Merck’s biopharmaceutical division Merck Serono announced its collaboration with the Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE) under the San Raffaele University and Research Hospital in Milan, Italy, to advance research in neurodegenerative diseases. 

The research agreement will build on a collaboration established in 2004 and will extend for two more years to develop pre-clinical and clinical research projects using a translational approach. The partners will target serious and debilitating neurological diseases that affect young adults, such as multiple sclerosis.

Harsukh Parmar, Merck Serono SVP, Global Head of Research and Early Development, Immunology and Neurology, said, “Merck Serono is pleased to continue the collaborative alliance with the San Raffaele Scientific Institute. Our translational approach to these disease states and combined commitment to expediting the discovery of new therapies aims to improve health outcomes for patients living with unmet medical needs.”

Professor of the department of neurology at San Raffaele Hospital, and INSPE Director Professor Giancarlo Comi, said that public and private institutes’ partnership with pharmaceutical companies bring much needed funding to research projects. “In compliance with the respective prerogatives and role of research institutions and companies in the pharmaceutical market, these forms of collaboration allow research institutes to actively participate as real drivers at the development of new therapies and at the definition of biomarkers, as essential tools for the drugs optimization.”

As part of the agreement, San Raffaele University and Research Hospital will supply its expertise and laboratories to develop new treatments as well as assess the efficacy of Merck Serono’s molecules.

Earlier this month Merck Serono announced the launch of Merck Global Grants, a program that covers Merck Serono’s Grants for Innovation in Research as well as Grants for Independent Medical Education. The program will invest 20 million pounds for all grants programs in Merck Serono’s portfolio. The biopharmaceutical division also appointed Luciano Rossetti as Executive Vice President and Global Head of R&D of Merck Serono earlier this July.