Merck Enters Into License Agreement With the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)

Darmstadt, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

- New agreement aims to translate CNIO research into new potential treatment
options for cancer patients
- License agreement encompasses two series of ATR inhibitors and a screening
platform

Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck, today
announced that a license agreement has been signed with the Spanish
National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) in Madrid in the area of
cancer drug development. The global agreement will build upon CNIO
research discoveries to encourage the development and
commercialization of new compounds in the field of oncology.

Under the terms of the license agreement, CNIO has granted to
Merck exclusive rights to develop and commercialize their new
inhibitors of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR)
kinase. In exchange, Merck will make an initial payment along with
other potential income of up to nearly EUR 19 million, as well as
royalties on net sales. The agreement encompasses the licensing of
two series of ATR inhibitors, as well as a screening platform to
validate the compounds, which have currently reached an advanced
preclinical stage.

"Part of Merck's commitment to oncology includes the focus on
strategic agreements that allow us to foster a constant flow of
innovations," said Andree Blaukat, Head of Translational Innovation
Platform Oncology for Merck Serono. "We are convinced that working
with like-minded organizations, like the CNIO, will further
strengthen our efforts towards finding the next generation of
breakthrough therapies."

"As a research organization, the CNIO is committed to fostering
and promoting innovation. Among other initiatives, the CNIO's
Experimental Therapeutics Program carries out early drug discovery
projects. The CNIO is delighted to be working with Merck to hopefully
translate this research into potential new treatment options for
patients with cancer," said María Blasco, Director of the CNIO. "It
is through collaborations with industry oncology leaders that we can
bring CNIO discoveries, such as those made by the group led by Oscar
Fernández-Capetillo, to patients, and contribute new improved
products to the battle against cancer."

ATR kinase has an important role in the response to DNA damage and
in facilitating cell survival. Due to the fact that tumor cells
accumulate more DNA damage than healthy cells, blocking ATR kinase
activity with selective inhibitors appears to be a strategy worth
investigating further for specific tumor types.

About the CNIO

The CNIO was created in 1998 by the National Health Institute
Carlos III, with the essential goal of developing research of
excellence and providing innovative technology in the field of
cancer. In the SIR World Report 2013, elaborated by the Scimago
research group to compare the scientific quality of research
Institutions worldwide, the CNIO occupies the second position among
the best cancer centres in the word (the first position among Spanish
centres). In line with these indicators, the Spanish Government
recognized the quality of the CNIO's scientific and human resources
programmes with the Severo Ochoa Award, accrediting CNIO as one of
the eight Spanish Centres of Excellence in 2011.

Maria Blasco has held the position of Director of the CNIO since
June 2011. Since its creation, the CNIO has established
collaborations with several national and international companies.
Moreover, in the past three years, the CNIO has launched two spin-off
companies: Life Length, focused on marketing in-house-developed
technology for telomere length determination as a novel method of
disease risk prediction; and BioncoTech, which develops a new
treatment for highly aggressive melanoma. More information:
http://www.cnio.es

About Merck Serono

Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck. With
headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany, Merck Serono offers leading
brands in 150 countries to help patients with cancer, multiple
sclerosis, infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders as well as
cardiovascular diseases. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono
operates as a separately incorporated subsidiary of Merck Serono.

Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets
prescription medicines of both chemical and biological origin in
specialist indications. We have an enduring commitment to deliver
novel therapies in our core focus areas of neurology, oncology,
immuno-oncology and immunology.

For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com.

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Merck is a leading pharmaceutical, chemical and life science
company with total revenues of EUR 11.2 billion in 2012, a history
that began in 1668, and a future shaped by approx. 38,000 employees
in 66 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from
entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under
the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an
approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining
approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was
expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

ots Originaltext: Merck Serono GmbH
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Contact:
Paul Olaniran, Phone +49-6151-72-2274,
paul.olaniran@external.merckgroup.com