Merck KGaA pays $169M for selective PARP1 drug, stepping up challenge to AstraZeneca and Gilead

Merck KGaA is doubling down on its bet that PARPs are just getting started, paying 160 million euros ($169 million) for ex-China rights to a rival to Lynparza and Zejula. The outlay, which is backed by up to 1.4 billion euros in milestones, strengthens the German drugmaker’s hand in a cancer field targeted by AstraZeneca and Gilead Sciences.