AstraZeneca and Merck Sharp and Dohme ally on cancer research

AstraZeneca has announced a new cancer drug research collaboration with fellow pharmaceuticals giant Merck Sharp and Dohme.

The global strategic oncology collaboration will focus on the co-development and co-commercialisation of AstraZeneca's Lynparza for multiple cancer types, with the aim of increasing the number of treatment options available to patients.

Lynparza is a first-in-class oral PARP inhibitor currently approved for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer in multiple lines of treatment, with 14 indications currently being developed across several tumour types, including breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

Under the terms of the new deal, both companies will develop and commercialise Lynparza jointly, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other potential medicines, including AstraZeneca's Imfinzi and Merck's Keytruda.

The collaboration will also support the development of AstraZeneca's selumetinib, a new therapy currently being developed for multiple indications, including thyroid cancer.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of AstraZeneca, said: "This is a truly exciting step and we are pleased to work with Merck, a company that shares our passion for science to deliver new medicines for cancer patients."

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