AstraZeneca, Merck to collaborate on early stage cancer drugs

AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck & Co (MRK) said that they will collaborate to research a novel combination anticancer regimen composed of two investigational compounds from Merck and AstraZeneca. According to preclinical trials (the laboratory phase), combining the two medicines could enhance their anticancer properties, making them more effective in the fight against the disease.

This is unusual as the two rivals will collaborate at an early stage of research and combine the cancer drugs already in Phase I test ( the first stage of clinical testing). In fact, it is the first example of companies joining forces so early. The early stages, normally involving only a small amount of patients, focus mainly on whether the compound is safe and can reach its intended target, but are insufficient to determine whether a drug is effective. At later stages, a larger population is used to determine whether a treatment actually works.