Bristol-Myers Squibb’s patent ­infringement suit against Merck over a new cancer treatment can move forward, a Delaware federal judge has ruled.

In Bristol-Myers Squibb v. Merck & Co., U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet of the District of Delaware denied Merck’s ­motion to dismiss Bristol-Myers’ complaint. Merck argued that Bristol-Myers’ patent for the cancer treatment was not valid.