Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Merck KGaA for the worldwide development and commercialization of four promising research and development programs that represent novel approaches to the treatment of cancer. As part of the agreement, Merck KGaA will license two clinical-stage programs targeting DNA damage and repair, along with two additional novel pre-clinical programs. Vertex will receive an upfront payment of $230 million, in addition to royalties on future net sales. Merck KGaA will assume full responsibility for the development and commercialization of all the programs.