definiens: means any and all technology, information, material, and know - how, including but not limited to inventions ( including without limitation ALNYLAM Collaboration Inventions and ALNYLAM 's rights in Joint Collaboration Inventions ), discoveries, improvements, processes, methods, protocols, formulas, data, and trade secrets patentable or otherwise, which : ( a ) as of the Effective Date and/or during the Collaboration Term, is in the Control of ALNYLAM or its Affiliates, including without limitation, all technology, information, and material, including inventions, discoveries and know - how, patentable or otherwise, of ALNYLAM ' s scientific advisors and consultants which are Controlled by ALNYLAM or its Affiliates, and ( b ) is necessary or useful to MERCK for the Collaboration and/or for in vitro and/or in vivo target identification and/or target validation and/or for the research, development, manufacturing, marketing, use, import or sale of Therapeutic Collaboration Products within the Therapeutic Collaboration in the Territory including, but not limited to, knowledge related to ( i ) the RNAi pathway and mechanism of action in mammalian cells, ( ii ) informatics approaches to optimal siRNA design for targeting specific genes and minimizing off - target effects, ( iii ) optimal RNA chemistry for siRNA in vivo stability and delivery, ( iv ) bio - analytical methods for measurement of pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of siRNAs, and ( v ) RNAi delivery methods