Drugmaker Merck is buying privately held company SmartCells, which is developing an experimental form of “intelligent insulin,” according to a recent article from the Financial Times. The deal is reportedly worth $500 million.
The smart insulin, which is currently being developed, is supposed to be self-regulating, meaning that it is released only when it is needed due to elevated blood sugar levels.
The acquisition marks Merck’s move into the insulin space at a time when other large drugmakers have tried to break into the market traditionally dominated by Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Sanofi-Aventis.
