Merck 2008 Annual Report Download - page 45

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40 | Merck Annual Report 2008
Overall, around 2,300 employees are engaged in the discovery and development of
new drugs – mainly in Darmstadt, Geneva and Boston. They are working in highly
specialized fields at the interface of innovative biotechnology and established pharma-
ceutical science. We improved our efficiency, starting seven new development projects
in 2008. In addition, we submitted three of our innovative compounds for approval.
We received four new marketing authorizations. In order to streamline our research
and development activities, we terminated ten projects at the pre-clinical or clinical
stage in 2008. As a result, our R&D pipeline consisted of 12 Phase I projects, eight
Phase II projects and 11 Phase III projects in 2008.
With the announced expansion of our U.S. research site in Billerica, Massachusetts
in a planned $ 50 million investment, we will strengthen our biotech research and
development activities in the United States. At the research center, which is scheduled
to be completed by 2010, around 200 scientists, as well as 50 employees specializing in
process development and protein production, will jointly discover and bring forward
new treatments for unmet medical needs. The close proximity of protein production to
research is expected to drive the rapid transition from research to manufacturing.
Scientific networks helping to secure the future
Cooperating in networks is of paramount importance to our success. In Germany,
we belong to a top biotech cluster in the Rhine-Neckar region that is supported by the
German federal government. Our researchers are participating in five subprojects.
We are involved in pioneering work on new therapeutic strategies to eliminate tumor
stem cells in collaboration with the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.
Another example of our networks is the research alliance between the Merck Serono
division and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Our joint efforts are
focused on the areas of neuroscience, oncology and drug delivery. The agreement has
provided for three Merck Serono-endowed chairs as well as a major research fund. One
of the projects is exploring the use of nanotechnology to achieve better drug uptake.
By restructuring our partnership with ZymoGenetics, we now have exclusive world-
wide development and commercialization rights for atacicept as well as access to other
innovative approaches. Merck Serono is developing the recombinant fusion protein
atacicept as a potential therapy for autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid
arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
.
We plan to strengthen
our biotech R&D activities
in the U.S.
We are cooperating with
universities and have set up a
fund for research projects.