GRAND RAPIDS ? A New Jersey-based pharmaceutical R&D organization will spend $200,000 to partner with Michigan’s Core Technology Alliance to develop four pilot projects in Michigan to help develop new drugs, the first out of state pharmaceutical company recruited by the former Michigan Life Sciences Corridor.
Schering-Plough Research Institute, the research and development division of Schering-Plough Corp, has agreed to partner with the CTA to support Schering-Plough?s drug discovery efforts.
Schering-Plough expects to initiate pilot projects with several of the CTA?s nine core facilities. These cores include High Throughput Screening Center at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Structural Biology Center at Michigan State University and Van Andel Institute, and Proteome Consortium at the University of Michigan and VAI. Currently, Schering-Plough is developing the study designs for these pilot projects.
?We are beginning to see the fruits of some of the early work we?ve done to ensure that Michigan is a leader in life sciences,? said VAI Chairman and CEO David Van Andel. ?Our research combined with the integrated resources available through the CTA are advancing Michigan to the forefront in drug development. Schering-Plough?s collaboration with the CTA is a tremendous testament to Michigan?s efforts to grow a biotech industry that can successfully compete in the global marketplace.?
Schering-Plough?s interest in collaborating with the CTA stemmed from a recent project with VAI. In 2005, the company licensed a biologic software application developed by the Institute. Schering-Plough is using the software, called Xenobase, to enhance its drug development process by applying the technology to its work with disease models and clinical patient samples.
?As we worked together on the Xenobase agreement it became clear to us that Schering-Plough could benefit from the type of core services available through the CTA,? said Van Andel Research Institute Director and CTA co-founder George Vande Woude, Ph.D. ?The beauty of the CTA is that it has strong value for both entrepreneurs and global pharmaceutical leaders like Schering-Plough.?
Vande Woude said Schering-Plough will spend $200,000 on the pilot drug development projects, a figure that could rise to $500,000 if the pilot projects show good results.
?Our vision has been to attract large pharmaceutical companies to Michigan to use our core services in an outsourcing manner,?? he said. ?Schering-Plough is the first to come in and contract with the state. It?s a good start for the CTA virtual outsourcing efforts.?
