Merck and AiCuris have entered into a licensing agreement that will initially earn the Bayer spin-off $142m, a deal which could rise up $429m. Merck will take control of the research and development work and assume all costs.
AiCuris (name derived from Anti-Infective Cures) picked up $75m in its series B round funding led by Santo Holding in 2010 but is majority owned by Andreas and Thomas Strüngmann, founders and former owners of the pharmaceutical company Hexal.