Merck Grants Malaria Drug Development License
Merck on Wednesday announced that it has granted the not-for-profit organization Medicines for Malaria Venture an exclusive, royalty-free license to develop an experimental malaria compound, Reuters reports. Although Merck scientists originally developed the compound, the company hopes that donating the drug to MMV will accelerate its clinical development. According to Reuters, Merck will have the option to partner the experimental drug after the completion of mid-stage trials.Merck's donation is "the latest example of drug makers stepping up efforts to address health issues" in developing countries, Reuters reports. In February, GlaxoSmithKline's CEO called for stakeholders to create a voluntary patent pool to spur drug development for neglected diseases such as malaria. According to Reuters, many companies in recent years have come under increasing pressure to boost access to affordable drugs in developing countries (Hirschler, Reuters, 3/18). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
