HTG Molecular Diagnostics has entered a new Master Collaboration Agreement for translational programs with Merck KGaA. 

The agreement complements the previously announced Master Companion Diagnostic Agreement with Merck KGaA and includes a statement of work with EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA in the United States and Canada.

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, into earlier research stages of their programs, and have already begun work on an initial custom assay development program,” said TJ Johnson, president and chief executive officer of HTG. “They are terrific partners, and we appreciate the confidence their teams have placed in us and our HTG EdgeSeq technology.”

Under the first program statement of work, HTG plans to develop and manufacture a custom profiling assay to support biomarker research for six indications within Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s drug development pipeline.  The assay is expected to be kitted for use on HTG EdgeSeq instruments acquired by Merck KGaA and/or their contract research organization partners.