SINGAPORE MERLION, MERCK EXTEND DRUG DISCOVERY PACT

Singapore drug discovery firm MerLion Pharmaceuticals Pte. Ltd. said Tuesday it is extending collaboration with Merck & Co. (MRK) to discover and develop new drug candidates derived from natural products chemistry. The company, in which state-owned venture capital firm BioOne has a major stake, said the new agreement extends the term of existing drug discovery projects for human health for an additional two years, and increases the number of drug targets under collaborative research.

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