Merck KGaA, which operates its biopharmaceutical business in the U.S. and Canada as EMD Serono, has entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement with Domain Therapeutics of Strasbourg, France, to explore adenosine inhibition in the development of novel immuno-oncology agents. 
 
Adenosine receptor antagonists are small molecules thought to slow tumor progression and improve the response to combination immunotherapies by inhibiting adenosine, a compound generated by cancer cells that inhibits anti-tumor responses by binding to T cells.
 
The companies will work to develop and test new agents targeting key adenosine receptors. Merck KGaA will support research activities and gain worldwide rights to Domain’s next generation of adenosine receptor inhibitors. 
 
“This new generation of adenosine receptor antagonists are an important addition to our immuno-oncology pipeline,” said Laszlo Radvanyi, Senior Vice President, head of Research in Immuno-Oncology at the biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “We plan to explore the promise of adenosine receptor antagonists and develop novel compounds to potentially use in new combination immunotherapies for cancer.”
  
“With its growing portfolio of immuno-oncology agents, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the ideal partner to develop our adenosine programs,” said Pascal Neuville, chief executive officer, Domain Therapeutics. “As a strong collaborator with a leading investigational checkpoint inhibitor, we are confident that through Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, our programs will progress rapidly.”