Merck's injected version of its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda could face a potential patent challenge from biotech Halozyme Therapeutics, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The company has asked the U.S. patent office to reconsider patents that could prevent it from selling a new version of its drug Keytruda.

Merck's newly developed injected version of its blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda, may be at the center of a potential patent dispute, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal

Shares in pharmaceuticals giant Merck (MRK) weakened today on fears that a patent battle could jeopardize its plans to sell a new version of

Biotech Halozyme Therapeutics believes the new version of Merck's blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda infringes on its patents, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

A new patent dispute is brewing between Halozyme Therapeutics (NASDAQ:HALO), a biotech focused on drug delivery technology, and Merck (NYSE:MRK) over an injectable version of the New Jersey-based pharma giant’s cancer blockbuster,