Merck and BGI to develop biomarkers and genomic technologies
For drug discovery and diagnostic applications across a range of therapeutic areas
Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, and BGI are jointly to discover and develop biomarkers and genomic technologies.
Under the agreement the two firms will work together to identify and characterise biomarkers for drug discovery, drug development and diagnostics applications across a range of therapeutic areas.
Merck and Cambridge, Massachusetts-based BGI will each be permitted to propose projects to be undertaken under the collaboration.
Both companies will provide resources, expertise, samples and other research material required for the collaboration.
Jeffrey Chodakewitz, vice president, Late Stage Development, Merck Research Laboratories, said the collaboration combines BGI's genomic sequencing and analytic capabilities with Merck's expertise in drug development.
‘By working together we hope to apply BGI's comprehensive next-gen sequencing solutions to develop important new tools to aid drug development and enable effective tailoring of medicines to those patients most likely to respond,’ he said.
‘This collaboration will bring mutual benefits to BGI and Merck in the next few years, but also support the development of new techniques that will benefit the medical and pharmaceutical industries as a whole,’ added Ye Yin, president of the Research and Cooperation Division at BGI.
The agreement follows last year’s signing of a statement of intent to initiate and develop a working relationship to explore areas of mutual interest in healthcare research and discovery.
