Merck will contribute small molecule assets and related IP.
Merck & Co. and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) entered into an agreement to support discovery and development of improved treatments for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Merck will contribute small molecule assets and related intellectual property via a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to DNDi to conduct early development programs for drug candidates for the treatment of NTDs like visceral leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
As part of the collaboration, Merck and DNDi will share joint intellectual property on drug candidates generated through early development. Merck will retain the option to undertake late clinical development and registration of drug candidates at its own expense or in partnership.
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