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Norak Biosciences Signs License Agreement Granting Merck

Merck to adopt Transfluor for use in GPCR drug discovery


October 6, 2004 - Research Triangle Park, NC - Norak Biosciences, Inc. (Norak) announced today the signing of a second license agreement granting Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck) the right to use Norak’s Transfluor® technology for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery.  

Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will internalize Transfluor for use broadly with GPCR targets of interest.  Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. This second agreement follows an agreement signed in 2002 granting Merck limited access to Transfluor, with Norak providing cell line development. 

Norak’s Transfluor technology is a patented, universal GPCR drug discovery technology designed to be the most direct and accurate method for screening potential drug candidates against GPCR targets, whether known or orphan. Transfluor was licensed in 1999 by Norak from technology developed at Duke University Medical Center and represents the combined research into GPCR signaling pathways over several decades by Norak’s scientific founders, Drs. Marc Caron, Robert Lefkowitz, and Larry Barak.
 
About Norak:

Norak Biosciences, Inc., headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC, is a private biotechnology company.  Norak is utilizing its proprietary Transfluor technology to become a world leader in the discovery and development of drugs that regulate G protein-coupled receptors. For more information about Norak Biosciences, Inc., please visit the Company’s website at http://www.norakbio.com

Contact: 

Terry E. Willard
Executive Vice President 
Norak Biosciences, Inc. 
7030 Kit Creek Road
Morrisville, NC 27560  
Phone: 919-248-8000 ext. 8804
Fax: 919-248-8033
twillard@norakbio.com

 

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