Merck & Co. and Lycera have partnered for a second time by forming a collaboration to discover, develop and commercialise small molecule therapies directed at multiple autoimmune disease targets. As part of the deal, which is potentially worth more than US$300 M to Lycera, Merck will be responsible for clinical development and will have global rights to products emerging from the collaboration. The two companies first partnered in March 2011 to develop drug candidates targeting T-helper 17 (Th17) cells and Lycera achieved its first milestone under the agreement in December 2011.