Bionomics has entered into an exclusive research collaboration and license agreement with Merck for its BNC375 research program targeting cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease and other central nervous system conditions.  

Merck will fund all R&D, including clinical development, and will be responsible for worldwide commercialization of any products from the collaboration. Bionomics will receive upfront payments totaling $20 million and is eligible to receive up to $506 million for achievement of certain research and clinical milestones and undisclosed royalties on product sales.

Dr. Deborah Rathjen, CEO and managing director of Bionomics, said, "We believe the combination of Bionomics' innovative approach and technologies, within its ionX platform, has the potential to rapidly advance new treatments."  

In July 2013, Bionomics announced an option and license agreement with Merck to discover and develop novel small molecule candidates for the treatment of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain. Merck has the option to exclusively license a compound from Bionomics for development and commercialization.

BNC375 is a key compound from the Bionomics research program licensed to Merck under this latest agreement. BNC375 and related compounds have displayed potent efficacy in animal cognitive impairment models.