Merck receives non-exclusive license to use Delphi StabyExpress technology

Delphi Genetics SA ("Delphi") has announced today a broad licensing agreement with a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, for the use of the StabyExpress™ technology, which allows high yield, cost effective protein expression without the use of antibiotics.

“This is the third licensing agreement that we have announced with a world leading healthcare company. The non-exclusive nature of this agreement enables us to consider similar collaborations with other strategic partners, including partners in other fields than biopharma production.”

Under the agreement, Merck receives a non-exclusive license to use the StabyExpress™ technology for protein expression in research and product development. In exchange, Delphi is eligible to receive milestone payments associated with the development of Merck product candidates that utilize the StabyExpress™ technology, as well as royalties on sales of such products. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Cédric Szpirer PhD, Delphi Genetics Founder and CEO, explained: "This is Delphi's first broad-based licensing agreement that covers potential use of the StabyExpress™ technology for protein based product in the areas of human and animal health."

Guy Hélin, CBO, added: "This is the third licensing agreement that we have announced with a world leading healthcare company. The non-exclusive nature of this agreement enables us to consider similar collaborations with other strategic partners, including partners in other fields than biopharma production."

Delphi also has licensing agreements with Sanofi-Pasteur, announced in June 2009, and with GSK, announced in September 2010.