BURLINGTON, Mass. — MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has entered into a partnership with Promega Corporation to co-develop innovative technologies that advance drug screening and discovery. The collaboration combines MilliporeSigma’s expertise in organoids and synthetic chemistry with Promega’s leading assay and reporter technologies to accelerate the development of more physiologically relevant cell models for research.
The two companies plan to create assays that track cellular activity in real time using an advanced reporter system within three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures. These organoid-based systems more closely mimic human biology than traditional two-dimensional models, helping researchers identify safer and more effective drug candidates for complex diseases such as cancer.
“This partnership with Promega shows what is possible when two companies with a shared commitment to science join forces,” said Anand Nambiar, Head of Science & Lab Solutions for the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “By combining our organoid expertise with Promega’s advanced reporter technology, we aim to enable high-throughput screening that helps researchers identify safer and more effective drug candidates for complex diseases—and do it faster than ever before.”
“Collaborating with MilliporeSigma allows us to push the boundaries of drug discovery,” said Tom Livelli, Vice President of Life Sciences Products & Services at Promega Corporation. “By combining our technological strengths, we are helping to create more relevant and accessible models for drug discovery, with the goal of enabling new insights and eventually better outcomes for patients.”
In addition to the main co-development agreement, the companies will explore integrating MilliporeSigma’s Duolink technology with Promega’s HiBiT system to enable new workflows for studying protein interactions within cells. This integration could give researchers deeper insights into cellular signaling and support applications in both biologics and small molecule drug discovery.
The collaboration is part of MilliporeSigma’s broader strategy to strengthen its leadership in next-generation biology and expand its 3D cell culture capabilities. Following its acquisition of HUB Organoids B.V. in December 2024, MilliporeSigma enhanced its organoid technology portfolio, securing foundational patents, advanced model generation capabilities, and high-throughput screening services. Together, these initiatives position the company as a global leader in providing researchers with cutting-edge tools that bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and clinical innovation.
