Merck in Agreement With Cyclica for AI-augmented Screening Platform to Expand Research Capabilities

PR76654

DARMSTADT, Germany, Dec. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

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    - Agreement to screen discovery and early development compounds using

artificial intelligence and computational biophysics

     - Cloud-based in silico platform that screens small molecules to determine

polypharmacological profiles

     - Evaluation to include identification of potential mechanisms of action

for investigational small molecules

    Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced that it

has entered into a licensing agreement with Cyclica Inc. for the use of Ligand

Express(R), a cloud-based in silico proteome screening platform. Ligand

Express(R) is a structure-based and artificial intelligence (AI) augmented

proteome screening platform that is being used to uncover novel targets that

are modelled to interact with a small molecule. This year-long agreement will

enable Merck to quickly and efficiently elucidate mechanisms of action,

evaluate safety profiles and explore additional applications for a number of

its investigational small molecules, including those identified in highly

disease-relevant phenotypic screens.

    "With scientific curiosity at the heart of everything we do, the pursuit of

state-of-the-art research techniques and technologies is integral to complement

our internal discovery engine," said Belen Garijo, Member of the Executive

Board and CEO Healthcare, Merck. "Artificial intelligence has the power to make

the previously unimaginable a reality - we are eager to harness these new

possibilities to help drive the discoveries that can transform the lives of

people affected by difficult-to-treat diseases."

    "A key part of our R&D strategy is to progress highly promising compounds

as efficiently and rapidly as possible," added Friedrich Rippmann, Director of

Computational Chemistry & Biology at Merck. "Assessing new technologies is

central to how we will advance our discovery programs, and artificial

intelligence applications like Ligand Express(R) will provide important

insights to enhance how we think about target identification to support

phenotypic screening and off-target profiling in general."

    "Current experimental protein screening approaches can take up to a year,

making it virtually impossible to do this for multiple compounds. We see this

as a specific opportunity for cloud-based and AI-augmented technologies to

drive drug discovery more efficiently," commented Naheed Kurji, President and

CEO of Cyclica. "We are thrilled that Merck will be leveraging the power of our

Ligand Express(R) platform to drive their identification of novel targets."

    Traditional development of small molecule therapies focuses on specific,

disease-associated protein targets. However, once a drug enters the body, it

interacts with dozens, if not hundreds, of proteins before it is eliminated

from the body. With Ligand Express(R), it is possible to capture a unique

panoramic view of the proteome for a given small molecule. As the technology

can model the ways in which a small molecule will interact with all proteins

(of known structure), it can help identify both 'on-targets' (interactions that

may have a desirable effect on a certain disease), as well as 'off-targets'

(interactions that may cause an adverse effect).

    Merck is committed to embracing innovative technologies to help bring a

transformational change to patients. This includes those developed by partners

who share a similar passion for discovery and advancing human progress.

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    About Merck Merck, the vibrant science and technology company, operates

across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 51,000

employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives

every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing

gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most

challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - Merck is

everywhere. In 2017, Merck generated sales of EUR 15.3 billion in 66 countries.

    Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to

Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived

since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of

the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name

and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the

business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare,  MilliporeSigma

in life science, and EMD Performance Materials.

    About Cyclica Cyclica is a Toronto-based biotechnology company that is

driving drug discovery by empowering scientists in pharma with an integrated

cloud-based and AI-augmented platform that enhances how they design, screen and

personalize medicines. To learn more, visit www.cyclicarx.com .

    Your Contact gangolf.schrimpf@merckgroup.com Phone: +49 6151 72-9591

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Source:  Merck