NPIL in cancer drug discovery pact with Merck

Nicholas Piramal India (NPIL), which today entered into a drug discovery collaboration for two cancer molecules with MSD Pharmaceuticals, the Indian arm of global drug major Merck & Company, is likely to sign two more drug in-licensing deals from global pharmaceutical companies.

"We are talking to some of the top-20 global companies for in-licensing deals, but it is too early to divulge details. We plan to have about eight molecules in the clinical trial stage by 2008-end, either by developing our own molecules into the clinical stage or through in-licensing," said Somesh Sharma, chief scientific officer, NPIL, who will head NPIL's demerged R&D unit.

At present, NPIL has four compounds in the clinical trial stage.

The company is demerging its new chemical entity (NCE) research unit into a separate company to meet the demands of increased spend on research and development, and to insulate investors from the risks involved.

The company is slated to take off within a few months, subject to various mandatory clearances.

According to the deal signed with Merck, NPIL will discover and develop new drugs for two selected targets provided by Merck in the area of cancer.

Merck will transfer the leads in the pre-clinical stage with intellectual property rights to NPIL, which will further develop the product till the proof-of-concept phase-II clinical trial stage.

Merck will have an option to advance the most promising drug candidates into late stage clinical trials and to commercialise them.

NPIL will be eligible to receive milestone payments associated with progress in the development of drug candidates of up to $175 million a target, plus royalty on the sale of any product resulting from the collaboration.