Twice As Nice: Seattle Genetics, Merck & Co. Partner On Two Cancer Drugs

Companies Will Jointly Develop A Novel ADC And Commercialize Tukysa

Merck & Co. will pay Seattle Genetics $725m up front in cash under the two deals and make a $1bn equity investment in the company, providing financial flexibility to broadly fund the pipeline.

A daisy reflected in a mirror
Two deals bloomed between Merck and Seattle Genetics • Source: Shutterstock

Seattle Genetics, Inc. has landed Merck & Co., Inc.. as a partner for two cancer therapies, including an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in a wide-spanning collaboration that will provide an influx of cash for the biotech to broadly fund the pipeline while retaining the financial flexibility to do deals.

The two companies announced the partnership on 14 September in which Merck & Co. will gain the right to jointly develop and commercialize ladiratuzumab vedotin (LV), an ADC targeting LIV-1...

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