MerLion, Fujisawa, Johns Hopkins University, National Cancer Center deal

Newly-formed MerLion partnered with Fujisawa to discover therapeutics using MerLion's natural sample collection. MerLion will provide its sample library, high throughput screening, natural product chemistry and lead optimization support. Fujisawa will provide therapeutic targets, lead generation assays, lead optimization, and will be responsible for clinical development and marketing of resulting products. MerLion will receive upfront payments for each lead compound discovered plus milestones and royalties. MerLion also will retain rights to discoveries not pursued by Fujisawa.

In addition, MerLion entered into drug discovery partnerships with Johns Hopkins University and the National Cancer Center in Singapore. Under the first deal, Johns Hopkins will contribute a cancer target related to Epstein Barr Virus, and the partners will develop a high throughput assay for viral DNA binding proteins. MerLion will provide its libraries, high throughput screening, natural product chemistry, purification and structure elucidation and lead optimization support. Development and commercialization will be shared. ...