Japan’s PeptiDream Collaborates With Merck on COVID-19 Therapeutics

Merck has teamed up with Japanese drugmaker PeptiDream to develop novel peptide therapeutics that can neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19.  

The exact terms of the development and licensing agreement were not disclosed, but PeptiDream will receive an initial payment followed by additional payments for reaching certain development milestones, as well as royalties from future sales.

The agreement builds upon a previous deal the companies signed in April 2015 to develop multiple therapeutic peptides.