"At SmartCells, we have made important progress in rapidly advancing from early concept towards clinical development," said Todd C. Zion, Ph.D., president, co-founder and chief executive officer. "This acquisition positions our novel technology for success in the hands of a leading pharmaceutical company with proven expertise and exceptional resources to deliver breakthrough diabetes products to patients."

SmartCells has developed a technology platform that makes it possible to auto-regulate the release of a therapeutic based on the plasma concentration of a designated molecular indicator. In the case of insulin, the technology employs an approach whereby an insulin therapeutic is available only in the presence of a specific glucose concentration range. If this approach is successful in the clinic, it has the potential to produce insulin analogs that may result in a lower risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) compared with standard insulin analogs and improve control over both fasting and post meal glucose levels.

SOURCE Merck & Co., Inc., and SmartCells, Inc.,