![Merck in late-stage talks to acquire Prometheus Biosciences - WSJ](https://i-invdn-com.investing.com/trkd-images/LYNXMPEJ3F00Z_L.jpg)
(Reuters) -Merck & Co is in late-stage talks to amass Prometheus Biosciences Inc to get its fingers on promising immune illness therapies, the Wall Road Journal reported on Sunday citing folks conversant in the matter.
A deal may very well be introduced as quickly as Sunday, the folks quoted mentioned, although cautioning the talks may nonetheless collapse.
Prometheus, a clinical-stage biotechnology firm specializing in therapeutic merchandise for the remedy of immune-mediated ailments, had a market capitalization of $5.42 billion as of the shut on Friday.
Merck has been on the lookout for offers to guard itself from eventual income loss as its most cancers immunotherapy Keytruda patents start to run out towards the top of the last decade.
Merck in February forecast 2023 earnings under Wall Road estimates and an anticipated steep decline in gross sales of its COVID-19 antiviral remedy.
Merck and Prometheus didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.