EMD Serono Announces Strategic Collaboration with Illumina for Diagnostics in Oncology

ROCKLAND, Mass., March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- EMD Serono today announced that the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has entered into a collaboration with Illumina, Inc. to expand the development of a universal next-generation sequencing-based oncology diagnostic for clinical trials of targeted cancer therapies.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will work together to develop assays that detect and simultaneously measure multiple genetic variants in a single tumor sample in a clinical trial setting. Illumina's successful regulatory track record was an important consideration in the collaboration, as next-generation sequencing platforms cleared by a regulatory agency could accelerate the development of an assay and facilitate the registration of a companion diagnostic.

"Our collaboration with Illumina around next-generation sequencing will enable us to perform genome studies at a pace unheard of a few years ago and could lead to the development of several diagnostics," said Susan Herbert, Head of Global Business Development at the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "This collaboration will strengthen the position of our company as a global leader in precision medicine in oncology."

The collaboration will include development of the diagnostic, worldwide regulatory approvals and global commercialization.

"This agreement is another step forward in realizing the promise of precision medicine," said Richard Klausner, M.D., Illumina's Chief Medical Officer. "There is a clear need to expand genetically-based clinical trials as a key approach for developing better treatments for cancer. We are very excited to work with our new partner on this endeavor."

This collaboration complements existing partnerships with the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the area of diagnostics, including Life Technologies and Dako, allowing the company to choose from a wide variety of technologies in implementing a precision medicine strategy.

About EMD Serono

EMD Serono is the U.S. and Canadian subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's biopharmaceutical business.  A leading US biopharma company, EMD Serono is focused exclusively on specialty care. For more than 40 years, EMD Serono has integrated cutting-edge science, innovative products and devices, and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in neurology, oncology, immunology and immuno-oncology. Today, EMD Serono has more than 1,100 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts.

For more information, please visit www.emdserono.com

Merck Group

Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six businesses – Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Life Science and Performance Materials – and generated sales of € 11.3 billion in 2014. Around 39,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company – since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70% interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials.

Cory Tromblee Phone: 781.681.2393[email protected]

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SOURCE EMD Serono