MSD and Addex form schizophrenia drug partnership

Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Addex Pharmaceuticals have announced an exclusive partnership to develop a new drug candidate for the potential treatment of schizophrenia.

The orally available ADX63365 candidate is part of the allosteric modulators group of compounds which Addex highlights as an emerging new class of therapeutic agents.

As part of the agreement, Addex will receive $22 million (11 million pounds) upfront and will also be eligible for up to $455 million in research, development, regulatory and sales milestones for two indications of the compound.

Addex will also be eligible to receive royalties on sales of any products resulting from the partnership and can promote the indications in a number of European Union countries.

Meanwhile, MSD’s senior vice-president of Neuroscience Darryle D Schoepp highlighted that Merck scientists had identified the potential of mGluR5 in schizophrenia under the company’s first partnership with Addex.

“Through this second collaboration with Addex we have now gained access to a promising drug candidate targeting this receptor that potentially allows us to address an area of high medical importance where current therapies are clearly inadequate,” he added.

Last month, MSD announced that Harry Jacobson, vice-chancellor of health affairs at Vanderbilt University, had been elected to its board of directors.