AstraZeneca, Merck Collaborate On Cancer Treatment

LINDA A. JOHNSON

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — AstraZeneca PLC and Merck & Co. said Monday they will jointly develop a pair of drugs meant to hit cancer with a one-two punch, part of a growing trend of combination cancer treatments.

The companies, two of the world's biggest drugmakers, said they will combine efforts with Merck's MK-2206 and AstraZeneca's AZD6244, both of which are still in very early development.

Such a partnership among major pharmaceutical companies on a combination treatment is unusual, normally occurring when each company has a drug either already on the market or in final human testing.

"This is really, really early," said analyst Steve Brozak of WBB Securities. "This is good news," as such partnerships can help produce the next generation of cancer drugs.

London-based AstraZeneca and Merck, of Whitehouse Station, N.J., said in a statement that by working together, they could bring the treatment to patients more quickly. They said pre-clinical studies — laboratory testing in cells and animals — indicate the combination has potential as an anticancer drug.