Germany-based Merck and Pfizer announced the finalization of a co-promotion agreement allowing the companies to jointly co-promote Pfizer’s anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor crizotinib, the first ALK inhibitor approved in the United States, Japan and the European Union (EU).
The agreement reinforces the alliance’s commitment to establishing a combined oncology sales organization in key markets. In 2015, Merck will receive a reimbursement associated with its promotion of crizotinib, followed by an 80 percent (Pfizer), 20 percent (Merck) profit sharing on the product starting in 2016. The co-promotion term will last through December 31, 2020 for the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom and from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2021 in China and Turkey. Pfizer will report the sales of the drug in countries where it is co-promoted with Merck.