AstraZeneca and Merck & Co, have entered a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize AstraZeneca’s LYNPARZA (olaparib) for multiple cancer types. As part of the agreement, Merck will pay AstraZeneca up to $8.5bn in total consideration, including $1.6bn upfront, $750m for certain license options and up to an additional $6.15bn contingent upon successful achievement of future regulatory and sales milestones. Collaboration Aims to Maximize the Potential of PARP and MEK Inhibitors in Combination with PD-L1/PD-1 Medicines, Based on Growing Scientific Evidence That These Combinations Offer New Potential for the Treatment of a Range of Tumor Types. LYNPARZA is an innovative, first-in-class oral poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor currently approved for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer in multiple lines of treatment. “By bringing together the expertise of two leading oncology innovators, we will accelerate LYNPARZA’s potential to become the preferred backbone of many immuno-oncology combination therapies as the world’s first and leading PARP inhibitor.” Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca chief executive officer. “This global collaboration between AstraZeneca and Merck, two oncology leaders, will increase the possibilities for patients to have more treatment options for more cancers. Merck continues to build its leadership in immuno-oncology with KEYTRUDA as foundational in monotherapy and combination therapy, and this collaboration expands our oncology leadership into the growing targeted therapies of PARP and MEK inhibitors.” Kenneth C. Frazier, Merck chief executive officer.