Merck KGaA, a leading science and technology company, has announced a partnership with Palantir Technologies, developer of the world's most sophisticated data integration and analysis software, at Palantir's headquarters in Palo Alto, California. The partnership will leverage Palantir's advanced data analytics capabilities to help Merck KGaA, better and more rapidly develop and deliver medicines to patients, commercialize new products, and improve patient outcomes. Initially Merck KGaA, apply Palantir's technology to cancer treatment and patient services. Ultimately Merck KGaA, plans to deploy Palantir's technology across all three of the company's business sectors healthcare, life science and performance materials.

"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 of the executive board and chief executive officer of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

"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."

Biomedical research generates unprecedented volumes of rapidly evolving data every day. But accessing, learning from, and expanding on those assets has become a huge bottleneck in scientists' ability to bring new innovations from the bench to the bedside. Through their combined expertise, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Palantir will aim to harness the power locked inside that data for the benefit of patients.

Palantir Technologies is a leading data integration platform. Palantir's software products are currently deployed by financial institutions, NGO's, government agencies and other organizations to solve mission critical data driven problems in intelligence, defense, law enforcement, data protection, health care and global finance among other areas.