Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has partnered with Palantir Technologies, a developer of data integration and analysis software, headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. The partnership will leverage Palantir’s data analytics capabilities to help Merck KGaA better and more rapidly develop and commercialize new products and improve patient outcomes.
 
Initially Merck KGaA will apply the technology to cancer treatment and patient services and then across all three of its business sectors: Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials. Financial details were not disclosed.
 
The partnership aims to increase precision of the drug development process by developing a collaborative data and analytics platform so that researchers can analyze real-world and bioinformatics data to understand the patients who may benefit most.
 
The partnership also aims to improve the patient experience by utilizing large-scale data sources to increase adherence and understand real-world drug efficacy.
 
Finally, the data and analytics platform aims to improve supply chain forecasting and agility.
 
“As a science and technology company, we are tackling the greatest challenges in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Now we are teaming up with Palantir since developing breakthrough technologies requires superior data analytics capabilities, and Palantir optimally complements our skills in that respect,” said Stefan Oschmann, chairman and chief executive officer of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, during the announcement of this partnership on Thursday.
 
“At the heart of Palantir’s mission is the desire to bring new tools to solve the world’s most difficult problems,” said Alexander Karp, founder and chief executive officer of Palantir. “When something like cancer is killing 8.2 million people each year, we want to do everything we can to apply our technological expertise to the fight, alongside partners who have been there since the beginning. We are pleased to have found a partner that shares our values and vision.”