Gene Logic, Inc. has entered into a drug repositioning and development agreement with Merck Serono to seek alternative development paths for several Merck Serono drug candidates that were discontinued or de-prioritized in clinical trials for reasons other than safety.
   
Under the agreement Gene Logic will receive success-based milestones and royalties similar to those paid for development-stage in-licensing deals. Gene Logic also has the option gain exclusive license to any drug candidate it identifies that Merck Serono chooses not to develop. If Gene Logic obtains such a license, Merck Serono would be entitled to receive success-based milestone and royalty payments.
   
Gene Logic's Drug Repositioning Program offers the potential for pharmaceutical partners to bolster their pipelines with high-quality drug candidates that originated from their own R&D efforts. The program evaluates drug candidates for potential use across a wide range of disease indications by applying a diverse set of drug discovery technologies.
   
Charles L. Dimmler, III, Gene Logic's chief executive officer and president, said, "Merck Serono is a world leader in reproductive health and has strong market positions in several other therapeutic areas. We look forward to applying our Drug Repositioning Program to complement their internal efforts to determine new uses for their clinical-stage, de-prioritized drug candidates. Our partnership with Merck Serono is our seventh drug development agreement, further substantiating the industry's recognition of our systematic approach to identifying novel therapeutic indications for drug candidates."

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