Collaboration with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals - Inflammation (LXR)
The collaboration with Wyeth (now acquired by Pfizer) was initiated in 2001 and targets the liver X receptor (LXR) for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. From September 2009, Wyeth takes on full responsibility for all research and development activities under the drug discovery collaboration.

Collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. - Women's Health (ER)
The collaboration with Merck regarding estrogen receptors (ER) in the field of women’s health was initiated in 1997. The joint drug discovery phase in the collaboration was concluded in 2002.  In December 2009, Merck initiated a clinical phase IIa study with MK-6913, the leading candidate drug in development within the collaboration. The study will assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of MK-6913 for the treatment of moderate-to-very-severe vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes/hot flushes) in postmenopausal women. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Karo Bio has the rights to milestone payments from Merck based upon the further successful clinical development and final drug approval as well as royalties on future drug sales. The initiation of clinical phase II development in December 2009 did not trigger a milestone payment to Karo Bio.  

Collaboration with Zydus Cadila - Inflammatory diseases (GR)
In early 2008, Karo Bio and the Indian pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila initiated a three-year research collaboration to discover and develop novel compounds for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The compounds are designed for the activation of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in a selective manner. While conventional steroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents, they are also associated with a number of side effects that limit their use. The aim is to design novel compounds that maintain the anti-inflammatory effects of conventional steroids but with significantly reduced side effects.

The collaboration has generated a series of novel anti-inflammatory GR agonist lead compounds with high affinity to the glucocorticoid receptor. Promising in vitro data suggest that these compounds are as potent in models of inflammation as conventional steroids, but with a significantly lower probability to cause side effects. Pre-clinical evaluation is ongoing for the identification of a candidate drug. Both parties share risks and rewards and cover their own costs within the collaboration program.