Japan's PeptiDream to work with Merck in developing COVID-19 therapies

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese drug-discovery company PeptiDream Inc said on Friday it would collaborate with Merck & Co in developing COVID-19 therapies.

The companies will work to develop peptide therapeutics that may be effective against multiple coronavirus strains, they said in a release. The agreement builds on a research and licensing partnership announced in 2015.

PeptiDream specializes in constrained peptides, types of amino acids that can carry various cargoes to specific types of cells.

Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Christian Schmollinger

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Reuters source:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-peptidream-merck-c/japans-peptidream-to-work-with-merck-in-developing-covid-19-therapies-idUSKBN23J0H8