Newsflash: Merck to buy insulin developer SmartCells Inc.

Merck to buy insulin developer SmartCells Inc. in a deal that may exceed $500 million if development and regulatory milestones are met. SmartCells is a private company developing a form of insulin that responds only in a specific glucose concentration range. If successful, the treatment may lower the risk of low blood sugar compared to standard insulin and improve control over both fasting and post-meal glucose levels.