(RTTNews) -  Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK: News ) and the not-for-profit Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, or DNDi, announced a master agreement to support discovery and development of improved treatments for neglected tropical diseases, or NTDs.

Under terms of the agreement, Merck will contribute small molecule assets and related intellectual property via a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to DNDi to conduct early development programs for drug candidates for the treatment of NTDs like visceral leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Further, the structure of the agreement has the potential to include multiple projects relevant to the spectrum of NTDs.
Merck and DNDi will share joint intellectual property on drug candidates generated through early development. Merck will retain the option to undertake late clinical development and registration of drug candidates at its own expense or in partnership.

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by RTT Staff Writer

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