Alnylam and Merck end partnership

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., which develops therapeutics based on RNA interference, said today that it has terminated its collaboration agreement with Merck & Co.

Alnylam has rescinded all grants of its intellectual property related to Merck development programs, including former co-developmental projects.

"It is fundamentally in our best interests to terminate our Merck collaboration," Alnylam President and Chief Executive John Maraganore said in a statement. He did not elaborate as to the reasons why. (AP)