Merck to leverage Palantir’s data analytics capabilities

Merck has collaborated with Palantir to leverage the latter’s advanced data analytics capabilities to help it develop and deliver medicines to patients.

Palantir’s technology will initially be applied by Merck to cancer treatment and patient services and subsequently be deployed across the healthcare, life science and performance materials businesses.

Merck executive board chairman and CEO Stefan Oschmann said: "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."

The partnership will launch with three initiatives, including medical research and drug development, global patient intimacy and global supply chain, within Merck’s Healthcare business sector.

It will develop a collaborative data and analytics platform and increase precision of the drug development process.

"At the heart of Palantir’s mission is the desire to bring new tools to solve the world’s most difficult problems."

Merck and Palantir’s data and analytics platform are set to improve supply chain forecasting and agility to provide medicines to patients worldwide with maximum speed.

Palantir founder and CEO Alexander Karp said: "At the heart of Palantir’s mission is the desire to bring new tools to solve the world’s most difficult problems.

"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."

With their collaboration, Merck and Palantir aim to harness the power locked inside that data for the benefit of patients.