Ranbaxy To Join Hands With Mercka

Ranbaxy Laboratories is likely to declare a drug discovery research alliance with US drug manufacturer Merck soon. The research deal will be operationalised via Ranbaxy''s de-merged research and development entity, Ranbaxy Life Science Research. Merck will be the second global drug company after GlaxoSmithKline to ink a collaborative research pact with Ranbaxy. Ranbaxy''s ongoing research partnership with GSK also relates to the pre-clinical trial phase of the new drug, with substantial milestone payment and post-commercialisation royalty possibilities. For Merck, the research agreement will be an expansion of its Indian presence in terms of collaborative R&D arrangements. The firm is having drug discovery agreements with Indian companies, including Advinus Therapeutics and Nicholas Piramal India.