DURHAM, N.C. — DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University (NCCU) (Durham, NC) has entered a material transfer agreement with Biogen Idec, a global biotechnology leader, that would provide its students with access to a 350,000 compound library.

“The addition of this compound library aids the establishment of high throughput screening core facility and furthers the BRITE’s effort to collaborate with the other research organizations at the Research Triangle Park,” said Li-An Yeh, director of BRITE.

In this agreement, Biogen Idec has agreed to grant NCCU a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use a chemical collection of approximate 350,000 compounds at the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) as a research tool in its drug discovery and chemical genomic research.

“This should be an extremely valuable resource to NCCU students,” said Juan Torres, Ph.D., director of Quality for Biogen Idec and member of the leadership team at the company’s Research Triangle Park facilities.

“The availability and quick access to these data will provide students with the most current information on a wide range of chemical compounds that will promote discovery and research within the BRITE initiative.”

Biogen Idec supports several statewide biotechnology training initiatives and has been involved with the Biomanufacturing and Pharmaceutical Training Consortium (BPTC) since its inception. BRITE is a component of the BPTC effort.

BRITE is in the process of establishing research activities toward biomanufacturing, drug discovery and related research. The mission of BRITE is to train students at the B.S.; M.S. and Ph.D. levels to work in the biotechnology and drug industries in North Carolina.

About Biogen Idec: Biogen Idec, which operates facilities in Research Triangle Park (RTP) with more than 560 employees, creates new standards of care in oncology, neurology and immunology. As a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of novel therapies, Biogen Idec transforms scientific discoveries into advances in human healthcare. For product labeling, press releases and additional information about the company, please visit www.biogenidec.com.