Three CECRs receive $4 million from Merck Canada

Merck Canada is investing $4 million in three Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) as part of a $100-million commitment it made in 2010 when it closed its Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research in a global restructuring (R$, July 19/10). The funding goes to the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer — Commercialization of Research (IRICoR) in Montreal, MaRS Innovation in Toronto and the Centre for Drug Research and Development in Vancouver. The Merck investment brings its investments since closing its centre for therapeutic research to $65 million. It is reflective of the firm's new R&D business model emphasizing partnerships to accelerate drug development and commercialization….