MONTREAL, Jan. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - Merck Canada has renewed its partnership with the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM) by investing a further $5 million over five years in the organization so it can continue its support of biopharmaceutical research in Quebec.

 

Merck is a founding member of CQDM, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to identify, finance and support collaborative research projects focusing on key enabling technologies for drug discovery and development. It promotes synergies between academia and the biopharmaceutical industry by creating a network of exchange and cooperation for research conducted at universities, hospitals and at biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

 

"This new investment by Merck is a vital contribution that will allow CQDM to continue its mission of supporting the world-class biopharmaceutical research work that is conducted in Quebec," said Max Fehlmann, President and Director-General of the CQDM. "It will help us promote the development of technologies that will lead to important new discoveries to benefit patients."

 

The investment by Merck is part of its 2010 pledge to invest $100 million over five years in biopharmaceutical research and development programs with Quebec companies and academic and research institutions.

 

"Merck is pleased to renew its important collaboration with CQDM by making this significant investment," said Carlos Dourado, President of Merck Canada. "The CQDM performs a vital role of ensuring constructive collaboration among Quebec biopharmaceutical researchers so that all involved can get maximum returns from their R&D investments. This is a key success factor in promoting Quebec as a major North American biopharmaceutical research hub."

 

About the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM)

 

The CQDM is a non-profit organization whose mission is to identify, fund and support research projects carried out in partnership between the academic and hospital milieus in the public sector and the biotechnology and contract research organization (CRO) in the private sector. Research projects funded by CQDM aim at developing tools or enabling technologies that facilitate and accelerate the drug discovery process. www.cqdm.org<http://www.cqdm.org>

 

About Merck

 

Today's Merck is working to help the world be well. Merck is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, consumer and animal health products. In Canada, Merck markets over 530 pharmaceutical, consumer and animal health products and is a leader in a broad range of areas such as cardiology, immunology, infectious diseases, respiratory, vaccines, women's health and sun care, and is focused on expanding offerings in other areas, including virology, oncology and diabetes.

 

Merck is one of the top 25 R&D investors in Canada, with an investment of $95.4 million in 2009. Merck also has a large manufacturing facility in Quebec dedicated to the annual production of some 35 million units including the Claritin and Aerius brands. Based in Montréal, Quebec, Merck employs over 1600 people across Canada. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca<http://www.merck.ca>.

 

Source:Pharmalive