Merck : Darmstadt, Germany, University of Cape Town and Medicines for Malaria Venture join forces to feed the antimalarial pipeline

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About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of € 15.0 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the 'Merck' name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

About the Merck Global Health Institute

The Institute is a social business unit from Merck KgaA and aims to deliver comprehensive life-changing health solutions to allow a growing child to become a healthy adult in developing economies. Focusing primarily on schistosomiasis, malaria and antimicrobial resistances, the Institute perfoms R&D, access & local implementation activities by leveraging from Merck businesses.

About MMV

MMV is a leading product development partnership (PDP) in the field of antimalarial drug research and development. Its mission is to reduce the burden of malaria in disease-endemic countries by enabling discovery, development and delivery of new, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs. Since its foundation in 1999, MMV and partners have developed and brought forward seven new medicines. In addition, MMV has taken over the stewardship of two approved artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) developed by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and partners. Since 2009, over 1.5 million lives are estimated to have been saved by MMV co-developed drugs.

MMV and partners manage a portfolio of 65 projects, the largest portfolio of antimalarial R&D and access projects ever assembled. The portfolio includes nine new drugs in clinical development addressing unmet medical needs in malaria, including medicines for children, pregnant women and relapsing malaria, and drugs that could support the elimination/eradication agenda. MMV's success in research and access & product management comes from its 160 active global partnerships. Since its inception in 1999, MMV has built an extensive network of over 400 pharmaceutical, academic and endemic-country partners in more than 55 countries.

MMV's vision is a world in which innovative medicines will cure and protect the vulnerable and under-served populations at risk of malaria, and ultimately help to eradicate this terrible disease. MMV's work is only possible due to the support of our partners and committed donors.

About About the University of Cape Town (UCT)'s H3D

H3D was founded in 2010 at UCT, the oldest university in South Africa and consistently highest-ranked African university. H3D officially opened its doors in April 2011 with the vision to be the leading organisation for integrated drug discovery and development on the African continent. Its mission is to discover and develop innovative, lifesaving medicines for African patients through excellence in interdisciplinary, translational science while also training African scientists to be world experts.

H3D has been active in malaria and tuberculosis drug discovery, and is now expanding into drug resistant infections of bacterial origin. It currently comprises more than 60 scientific staff members in the areas of medicinal chemistry, biology as well as Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics. H3D has state-of-the-art laboratories and has the necessary infrastructure to conduct integrated drug discovery projects to deliver clinical candidates.