By Joshua Kirby

Merck KGaA said Thursday that it is to collaborate with U.K. DNA damage-response company Artios Pharma on research to discover and develop multiple precision-oncology drugs.

Under the three-year agreement, Artios will receive $30 million in up-front and near-term payments, Merck said. The German pharmaceutical company added that it will have the right to opt into development and commercialization of compounds on up to eight targets. Artios could then receive a further $860 million in milestone payments, as well as up to double-digit royalties on net sales of each product.

The companies will together use Artios's proprietary nuclease-targeting discovery platform to identify multiple targets for precision cancer-treatment candidates, Merck said. The terms of the agreement don't cover Artios's lead programs, for which it will retain all rights.

Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@dowjones.com; @joshualeokirby

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

12-03-20 0348ET