Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. collaborates with InKine Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. creating the largest US specialty pharmaceutical company focused exclusively on gastroenterology.

Subject to a certificate of merger being filed with the New York Department of State and other standard closing conditions, the merger is effective, claims a company release.

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Salix's strategy is to in-license late-stage or marketed proprietary therapeutic drugs, complete any required development and regulatory submission of these products, and market them through the company's gastroenterology specialty sales and marketing team.