Zymeworks and Merck

http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2011/08/29/zymeworks-snags-187m-deal-with-merck-to-discover-two-pronged-antibodies/

Zymeworks is announcing today it has secured a partnership with Whitehouse Station, NJ-based Merck (NYSE: MRK) to develop new antibody drugs for cancer and autoimmune diseases that are engineered to hit two or more targets on cells instead of just one. In exchange for helping Merck create these so-called “bispecific” antibodies, Zymeworks is getting an undisclosed cash fee upfront, plus milestone payments, which could be worth as much as $187 million over time if drugs from the partnership reach certain goals. Merck will have exclusive worldwide rights to sell drugs from the partnership and Zymeworks will get tiered royalties on product sales if any materialize.