Finnish start-up FKD Therapies, which was co-founded by the ex-CEO of Ark Therapeutics, has obtained an exclusive licence to develop and commercialise Merck & Co.’s recombinant adenoviral interferon alpha 2b (rAd-IFN) gene therapy for the treatment of superficial bladder cancer as well as options to gene therapy programmes for solid tumours and glaucoma surgery failure. In return, Merck has acquired a minority stake in FKD, which has raised US$16 M in private funding since its formation in February 2011.