Merck's Capital Idea: Industry's Latest Push to Strengthen VC Ties

IN an effort to forge earlier and stronger ties to venture-backed biotechs, the new Merck Research Venture Fund illustrates the lure -- and the limitations -- of strategic pharma-VC relationships. Merck has endowed the MRVF with $250 million and the fund will make a series of investments in life science venture capital firms around the globe. Simultaneously it has also staked a second fund, the Global Health Innovation Fund, with an additional $250 million to invest in later-stage companies outside of the drug area.