The company has drug development programs which are designed around validated clinical targets associated with large unmet markets including hypertension and epilepsy, in addition to pain.In March 2006, Neuromed and Merck & Co. signed a research collaboration and license agreement to research, develop and commercialize N-type calcium channel blockers, including Neuromed's lead compound MK-6721 (NMED-160), which is currently in Phase 2 development for the treatment of pain. MK-6721 (NMED-160) is an orally available N-type calcium channel blocker, a new class of drug, and the first of its kind to be tested in clinical trials.