Metabasis Therapeutics entered into agreement with Merck & Co. to research, develop and commercialize small molecules that will focus on the activation of liver enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) for treating several diseases including type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity. The analyst opinion article states that deal with Merck will surmount the remaining uncertainty of Metabasis as the deal is a validation of Metabasis’ technologies and will also provide funding to enable it to progress the early-stage AMPK program.