Merck Sharp & Dohme has entered into a research collaboration with UK-based 4D Pharma to discover and develop up to three vaccine candidates by using the latter’s proprietary platform - MicroRx. Merck will be liable to purchase shares of US$5 M in 4D Pharma in the first year of the collaboration while 4D Pharma will receive payments of up to US$347.5 M contingent upon the achievement of clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones. The deal follows an already existing collaboration between these two companies involving 4D Pharma’s lead oncology asset, MRx0518, and Merck’s flagship product, Keytruda® (pembrolizumab).