Merck Collaborates with IRBM to Develop Novel Peptide Therapeutics Against Coronavirus

Merck (Kenilworth, NJ, USA) has entered into a new research collaboration agreement with IRBM (Rome, Italy), a global contract research organization, to identify and develop novel peptide therapeutics active against different strains of coronavirus, including SARS-CoV-2.

The companies will collaborate in hit to lead optimization and preclinical drug development to rapidly advance selected candidates towards the clinic. IRBM has a broad and deep expertise in peptide drug development, from target validation to initial hit identification to the development of a clinical candidate, with the required properties of specificity, potency, pharmacokinetics, metabolism and toxicology. IRBM will leverage previous research into SARS to contribute to identifying and developing a potential treatment of SARS-CoV-2, as well as other future life-threatening coronavirus strains.

“With this new outbreak of coronavirus, it makes sense for Merck and IRBM to join forces in this crucial area and work together on a treatment for this devastating pandemic as well as possible future pandemics.” said Carlo Toniatti, CSO at IRBM. “Our accomplished team here, led by Elisabetta Bianchi, and at Merck, have a long heritage in the field of peptide development and have the expertise required to tackle this challenging project”

“Merck and IRBM have a proud history of conducting breakthrough antiviral research,” said Daria Hazuda, vice president infectious diseases and vaccines discovery, Merck and Chief Scientific Officer Merck Exploratory Science Centre. “We look forward to advancing this important program.”

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