Vertex sharpens focus on gene-editing in licensing deal with Merck KGaA

Two years ago Merck KGaA splurged $230 million to license all the rights to four oncology programs, including a DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) inhibitor, from cystic fibrosis drugmaker Vertex. On Thursday, the German drugmaker allowed Vertex access to the compound via a licensing deal for use in the field of gene editing.