GENEVA, December 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced a strategic collaboration with the Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe) and the Department of Neurology of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute (Milan, Italy) to advance clinical research projects in multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases.

This collaboration follows previous agreements, initially started in 2004, and extends the partnership between both the two parties for three years. It will provide support for basic science research at INSpe to further the understanding of multiple sclerosis and offer a match of skills and competencies to bring forward new potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The San Raffaele Scientific Institute will provide its know-how and its models to evaluate the efficacy of the compounds developed by Merck Serono in preclinical and clinical studies in patients. Merck Serono will also fund active doctoral programs in this area of research.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue our work with the San Raffaele Scientific Institute and its teams of experts, which will support our efforts to develop translational medicine technologies and models," said Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice President for Global Research and Development at Merck Serono. "This collaboration follows our commitment to further build a network of alliances with clinical research institutions to ensure a constant flow of innovation into our organisation."

Professor Giancarlo Comi, director of the Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe) and the Department of Neurology of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, stated: "The Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe) was conceived to develop innovative therapies in inflammatory and neurodegenerative central nervous system diseases. This agreement extends a positive and productive collaboration and opens up great opportunities associated with the complementary skills possessed by the two contracting parties. We intend to accelerate research to the clinical development in order to offer our patients the most advanced therapeutic options."