Merck Serono and Flamel accord of Medusa technology

Geneva, Switzerland-based Merck Serono, a division of Germany's Merck KGaA, has entered into a collaboration with US firm Flamel Technologies to investigate the applicability of the latter's Medusa technology for the extended release of a therapeutic protein of the drugmaker's portfolio.

Under the terms of the deal, Merck Serono will make an upfront payment of 2.0 million euros ($2.9 million) to Flamel for investigating the therapeutic protein and the former will fund R&D efforts to be performed at the latter. Financial terms of a license agreement up through potential commercialization of this formulation have been agreed between the parties but are not disclosed.

Bernhard Kirschbaum, Merck Serono's head of research, said: "as Flamel's Medusa technology allows for longer intervals between administrations of injectable proteins compared to standard formulations, we hope to offer an improved convenience for patients requiring treatment by injection. As a consequence, we anticipate that employing this technology will lead to better treatment outcomes for patients."