In a bid to secure growth drivers beyond Keytruda® (pembrolizumab), Merck & Co. has partnered with Skyhawk Therapeutics to discover, develop and commercialise small molecule therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Merck will gain an option to the candidates discovered from the collaboration which, if exercised, deems Skyhawk eligible to receive up to US$600 M per programme target. The deal comes as the loss of exclusivity for leading revenue generators, Januvia® (sitagliptin) and Janumet® (sitagliptin and metformin HCl), nears in 2022.