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ARTICLE | Company News

Vertex grants Merck KGaA rights to cancer programs

January 12, 2017 12:17 AM UTC

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) granted Merck KGaA (Xetra:MRK) exclusive, worldwide rights to four cancer programs. Vertex is to receive $230 million up front and is eligible for royalties. Merck will be responsible for the programs' development and commercialization.

Merck received rights to Vertex's VX-970 and VX-803, both of which are ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR; FRP1) inhibitors. VX-970 is in a Phase II studies to treat ovarian and urothelial cancers, and several other Phase I studies in solid tumors. VX-803 is in Phase I testing in combination with chemotherapy to treat advanced solid tumors...