Sanofi-aventis US Inc Signed Agreement with Merck KGaA

Sanofi-aventis announced on 17 December 2010 that Sanofi-aventis US Inc. signed a worldwide research and development agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.  As per the agreement Merck’s division Merck Serono and sanofi-aventis US Inc. will collaboratively investigate novel experimental combinations of agents which are likely to block specific pathways in cancer cells. This collaboration is expected to deliver novel targeted oncology treatments with high therapeutic potential. The novel combinations include- Merck Serono’s MEK inhibitor MSC1936369B, sanofi-aventis PI3K/mTOR inhibitor SAR245409, class I PI3K inhibitor SAR245408.

According to the agreement each party will be initially responsible for conducting a phase I dose escalation study of these product candidates. Sanofi-aventis will be given a research and development license to MSC1936369B to enable it to assess safety and initial clinical activity in combination with its PI3K inhibitor SAR245408. On the other hand Merck Serono will be granted a research and development license to SAR245409 in order to assess safety and initial clinical activity in combination with its MEK inhibitor MSC1936369B.

SAR245408 is an inhibitor of class I PI3K (Phosphoinositol 3 Kinase). SAR245409 is a dual inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR (mammalian Target of Rapamycin). Both compounds on being tested effectively blocked downstream signalling and are in early clinical development as monotherapy and in combination with standard of care. MSC1936369B is Merck Serono’s experimental selective inhibitor of protein kinases MEK1 and MEK2.

Sanofi-aventis Oncology is targeting cancer on several fronts in an effort to address unmet medical needs for a broad range of patients.