Prokaryotics is a start-up company resulting from the licensing of several novel antibiotic programs from Merck & Co., Inc. – by a team of former senior scientists at the company including the head of the Antimicrobial Early Discovery Unit, to optimize a number of Merck’s early-stage programs. Prokaryotics has negotiated worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize pre-clinical assets and programs targeting both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.