NiKem Srl signs R&D deal with InterMune

NiKem Research Srl, an Italian drug discovery service provider, has entered into a Research Service Agreement with InterMune, a California, USA-based biotechnology company focused on therapies in hepatology and pulmonology.

Under the terms of the deal, NiKem will, in the next 12 months, use its medicinal chemistry and early pharmacokinetics platform and expertise to design, synthesize and profile drug-like compounds aimed towards specific, undisclosed pulmonology targets of interest for InterMune. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

By pursuing this business opportunity with InterMune, NiKem Research says it has further diversified its client portfolio in Europe, the USA and Australia, which now comprises large pharmaceutical corporations, small biotechnology firms and a number of medium-sized companies.