Merck Serono and San Raffaele Institute to Collaborate on Research

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced a strategic collaboration with the Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe) and the Department of Neurology of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute (Milan, Italy) to advance clinical research projects in multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases. This collaboration follows previous agreements, initially started in 2004, and extends the partnership between both the two parties for three years. It will provide support for basic science research at INSpe to further the understanding of multiple sclerosis and offer a match of skills and competencies to bring forward new potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The San Raffaele Scientific Institute will provide its know-how and its models to evaluate the efficacy of the compounds developed by Merck Serono in preclinical and clinical studies in patients. Merck Serono will also fund active doctoral programs in this area of research.

Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice President for Global Research and Development at Merck Serono said, We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue our work with the San Raffaele Scientific Institute and its teams of experts, which will support our efforts to develop translational medicine technologies and models.