Merck Millipore announces joint development agreement with Sysmex Corporation

Merck Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck, today announced a clinical research, licensing and joint development agreement with Sysmex Corporation of Japan. This collaboration will use Merck Millipore's flow cytometry technology as a platform to accelerate the creation of new, more powerful diagnostic tools for research in blood disorders. If successful, Sysmex and Merck Millipore will collaborate on developing the imaging flow technology platform for future commercialization in hematology.

"Sysmex is a global leader in clinical diagnostics and we are pleased to have this opportunity to partner with them to advance hematology research and diagnostics," said Robert Yates, President of the Merck Millipore Division.

Sysmex is conducting a clinical study assessing Merck Millipore's Amnis imaging flow cytometry technology for hematologic disorders such as leukemia. Once clinical research is complete, both parties intend to combine the imaging flow cytometry technology with Sysmex's technologies to develop new imaging flow cytometry technology that will generate image data of molecular (protein) expression status, as well as the identification of abnormal cells in the blood. Sysmex aims to promote the creation of new diagnostic technologies that will lead to the realization of personalized medicine and contribute to the advancement of healthcare by meeting increasingly diverse and sophisticated testing needs.

The first step in the Merck Millipore-Sysmex collaboration will be a clinical trial of the Amnis technology using patient blood samples to detect and characterize leukemic conditions and other hematologic disorders. An earlier joint feasibility study showed very encouraging results.

"Merck Millipore's Amnis imaging flow cytometry has the potential to transform hematologic research and diagnostics," said Yates. "We believe this agreement will lead to improved care for patients around the world."