Companies developing RNA-based therapies are now attracting significant investments, and the technologies and emerging products in the field have become desirable assets for big biopharmaceutical companies. In fact, during the past two years 20 deals have been executed, according to BioWorld data. Notably, last month Merck & Co. Inc. inked a partnership with Skyhawk Therapeutics Inc. to lever its expertise in the discovery and development of small molecules that modulate RNA splicing, agreeing to pay Skyhawk up to $600 million per program target plus royalties on sales of any commercialized products of the collaboration.