Alnylam, Merck end RNAi deal

ALNY and MRK mutually ended a 2003 deal, amended in 2006, to develop RNAi therapeutics against nine targets. ALNY rescinded all grants of IP related to current and future MRK programs. ALNY said it was in the company's "best interests" to end the deal based on MRK's opposition to certain ALNY patents in Europe and to protect ALNY IP. Last year, MRK acquired RNAi company Sirna (See BioCentury, Nov. 06, 2006). ...