Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Germany's Merck KGaA, and US company Mersana Therapeutics, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have agreed to collaborate on developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

The collaboration will leverage Mersana's Fleximer technology to generate ADCs for multiple undisclosed targets. The companies will test a variety of ADCs by utilizing Mersana's platform technologies and several cytotoxic agents as conjugates.

As part of the agreement that Merck KGaA said "further underlines Merck Serono's approach to employ a collaborative research and development model, creating strategic partnerships to drive innovation," the company will provide monoclonal antibodies to Mersana, which will generate the Fleximer ADCs and conduct drug discovery and preclinical development activities.

Merck Serono will have responsibility for any clinical development and commercialization of any products under exclusive licence from Mersana. Along with an upfront payment, the US partner will be eligible to receive milestones plus royalties on worldwide net sales of any co-developed products.