Latecomer Merck Enters Coronavirus Vaccine Field With Themis Acquisition

Company Was First To Develop An Ebola Vaccine

While Moderna and others frontrunners aim for a 2020 emergency use approval, Merck believes a more deliberate approach will pay off in the long term.

Merck
Merck will acquire Themis, whose vaccine is expected to enter Phase I trials later this year

Merck & Co. Inc. has been conspicuous by its absence to date from the race to develop COVID-19 vaccines and therapies – but has now unveiled a three-part strategy to tackle the pandemic.

This will entail the acquisition of privately held vaccines firm Themis, which already has a novel coronavirus candidate in pre-clinical...

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