Partners In Research

The journey to better patient care begins with research. For more than 100 years, the names Merck and Frosst have been inextricably linked to many advances—in the treatment of infectious diseases and pain and inflammation, for breakthroughs in immunization and vaccines, in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, in mitigating the effects of glaucoma and osteoporosis and in controlling the symptoms of asthma.

The Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research is one of Canada’s largest biomedical research facilities. Merck Frosst invests more than $115 million annually in research and development and is one of the top 20 corporate R&D spenders in Canada. Located in Montréal, Québec, the Centre is one of 11 Merck research laboratories worldwide. Current research and development programs at Merck laboratories focus on nine priority disease areas - Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, novel vaccines, obesity, oncology, pain and sleep disorders. The company will also make focused investments to pursue specific mechanisms in the following selected disease areas: antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals (hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neurodegeneration, ophthalmology, osteoporosis, schizophrenia and stroke.

Turning new scientific information into novel medicines
Scientists at the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research are working to discover new therapeutic agents for the treatment of respiratory diseases, inflammatory diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis. A major focus of the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research has been on leukotrienes and prostaglandins, chemicals produced by the human body that trigger allergic reactions and inflammatory disorders. Additionally, scientists are active in mining many other pathways for the therapeutic targets of the future.

Merck Frosst has doubled the number of research and development personnel in the last decade. More than 300 of the world’s leading scientific personnel with advanced degrees now work for the company in six research groups: Medicinal Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Process Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Research and Development, and Clinical Research. Merck Frosst scientists conduct the entire range of the research process in the company’s state-of-the-art laboratories. Basic research seeks to shed light on the fundamental mechanisms of disease. Promising compounds are then investigated to observe their effects on these mechanisms. This investigation includes finding the correct dosage and the best means of delivering the medication. Clinical research is conducted to ascertain the drug’s safety and efficacy.

Developing advances in patient care
This line of research has led to the development of SINGULAIR^® (montelukast sodium), an oral asthma medication that adults and children as young as age two can take daily to control their asthma symptoms. Prostaglandin research has also led our scientists to discover and develop the anti-inflammatory medication ARCOXIA™ (etoricoxib)—for the treatment of arthritis and pain. This medication is approved in more than 40 countries worldwide. Merck Frosst scientists continue to work on therapeutic approaches to inflammatory diseases to bring new treatments to patients.

Discovery does not occur in a vacuum. It takes resources, teamwork and partnerships that transcend national and corporate borders as well as an environment that values research to make the discoveries that advance our understanding of disease and lead to innovative treatments. The Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research works extensively with scientists in universities, hospitals, healthcare institutions and our network of Merck research centres.

Driving innovation through alliances

Merck Frosst's strategy of establishing strong external alliances complements its considerable internal research capabilities. This approach includes early-stage research collaborations to identify compounds for development, as well as innovative arrangements for products that are either established or in later stages of development.

Advances in healthcare require resources, teamwork and partnerships across the country, across the world and across companies. Merck Frost partners with other Canadian institutions that share common goals.

• Génome Québec
  In April 2006, Merck Frosst and Génome Québec, announced a joint research investment to develop treatments for life-threatening fungal infections. This research will be conducted by Merck Frosst. scientists.
• Robarts Research Institute
  In March 2006, the Robarts Research Institute, in London, Ontario, opened Canada's most advanced MRI facility. Merck invested $3 million in an ultra-high field MRI scanner, which will help its researchers accelerate the study of a range of disorders, including respiratory illnesses, stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
• Neuromed Pharmaceuticals
  Vancouver-based Neuromed and Merck recently signed an agreement to collaborate on research, development and commercialization of novel compounds for pain, including the compound NMED-160 that targets the N-type calcium channel. 

The Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research will remain a major player in the on-going worldwide effort to push back the frontiers of medicine. The Centre is already at the forefront of rapidly advancing areas of pharmaceutical sciences. In the coming years, we will continue to invest heavily in bioinformatics and other research information technologies to extract maximum value from the resulting flood of information—value for Merck Frosst and the patients that we hope to treat.