Merck & Co. has snapped up worldwide rights to Endocyte’s late-stage targeted cancer drug vintafolide (EC145) in a deal potentially worth US$1 B, including US$120 M upfront. Vintafolide is currently being evaluated in a Phase III trial for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and a Phase II trial for non-small-cell lung cancer. Both trials involve Endocyte’s etarfolatide (EC20), a non-invasive companion diagnostic imaging agent that is used to identify patients most likely to respond to the treatment.