Continuing its bolt-on acquisition strategy, Merck & Co. has agreed to purchase Cubist Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth approximately US$9.5 B, including the assumption of US$1.1 B of net debt. The deal, which will strengthen Merck’s presence in its core area of hospital acute care, gives the company access to aportfolio of antibiotics for drug-resistant infections, including Cubicin® (daptomycin). After the acquisition was announced, a US court ruled that four of the five key patents covering Cubicinwere invalid, thus making the purchase appear expensive.