Merck, Pfizer Finalize Deal To Co-promote Xalkori

Pfizer and Merck have finalized their co-promotion agreement regarding the former’s anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, XALKORI (crizotinib) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. The co-promotion will occur in two waves. The first, beginning in Q2 and Q3, will roll out in the U.S., Canada, Japan and five European countries—France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. In the U.S. and Canada, XALKORI will be co-promoted by EMD Serono, Merck KGaA’s arm in these countries. The second wave, in China and Turkey, will start in 2016.