EMD Serono has begun co-promoting Pfizer's anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor XALKORI (crizotinib) as part of its global strategic alliance with Pfizer.

The initiation of field-based commercialization efforts for XALKORI illustrates the company's dedication to oncology, and to bringing important treatment options for challenging cancers to patients.

This co-promotion relationship is part of the larger, global strategic alliance between Merck KGaA and Pfizer to jointly develop and commercialize avelumab, an investigational anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, to accelerate the development of immuno-oncology medicines for patients with cancer.

The immuno-oncology alliance will also advance Pfizer's PD-1 antibody.