ARTICLE | Company News
Vertex, Merck deal
January 13, 2017 4:15 PM UTC
Vertex granted Merck exclusive, worldwide rights to four cancer programs. Vertex will receive $230 million up front and is eligible for royalties. Merck will be responsible for the programs' development and commercialization.
The deal includes Vertex's VX-970 and VX-803, both of which are ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR; FRP1) inhibitors. VX-970 is in Phase II testing to treat ovarian and urothelial cancers and several other Phase I trials in solid tumors. VX-803 is in Phase I testing in combination with chemotherapy to treat advanced solid tumors. Merck also received rights to a DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) inhibitor program, including VX-984. That candidate is in Phase I testing to treat advanced solid tumors...