Merck Acquires Afferent, and Potential Treatments for Chronic Cough, for $500M
Merck is acquiring Afferent Pharmaceuticals — including its therapeutic candidates targeting the P2X3 receptor, now in clinical testing for neurogenic conditions that include chronic respiratory diseases — under a definitive agreement announced by the two companies. A lead investigational drug developed by Afferent, AF-219, is under evaluation in a Phase 2b dose-escalating study (…