Merck collaborates with China-based genomics specialist BGI
pharmafile | September 14, 2011 | News story | Research and Development | BGI, Merck & Co, biomarkers, genomics
Scientists from Merck & Co and China-based genomics specialist BGI are to work together to find and develop biomarkers and genomic technologies.
“This strategic collaboration combines BGI’s genomic sequencing and analytic capabilities with Merck’s expertise and experience in drug development,” explained Jeffrey Chodakewitz, vice president, late stage development, Merck Research Laboratories.
Advances in genomics is one of the planks on which the promise of personalised medicine is based, with genomic tests allowing patients’ susceptibility to disease to be assessed, thus enabling doctors to predict how individuals will respond to a particular drug.
“We hope to apply BGI’s comprehensive next-gen sequencing solutions to develop important new tools to aid drug development and enable effective tailoring of medicines to those patients most likely to respond,” Chodakewitz added.
The collaboration will put its emphasis on drug discovery and development and diagnostics applications across a range of therapy areas, with the potential to benefit the pharma industry as a whole, BGI insists.
A year ago the companies signed a statement of intent to develop a working relationship to create value from the wealth of genomic information generated by cutting-edge DNA sequencing and analysis technologies.
Eliminating unnecessary treatments, reducing adverse reactions to drugs and increasing their efficacy represent a holy grail for an industry seeking to improve health outcomes.
Under the terms of this agreement, Merck and BGI can each propose projects to one another, with each providing resources, expertise, samples and other research material as it is needed.
“We welcome this opportunity to bring extensive genomics experience to our collaboration with Merck, as well as our expertise in transcriptomics, proteomics and bioinformatics,” said Ye Yin, president of the research and cooperation division at BGI.
“We are confident that we will achieve more important breakthroughs to accelerate disease genomics research and drug R&D to facilitate improved health care,” he added.
Formed in 1999, BGI has affiliates in the Americas and Europe. The company has been involved in high profile research projects such as sequencing 1% of the human genome for the International Human Genome Project, and contributing 10% to the International Human HapMap Project.
Adam Hill
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