Jan 18 (Reuters) - Biotech company ProKidney LP is going public through a merger with a blank-check firm backed by veteran dealmaker Chamath Palihapitiya, in a deal that values the combined company at $2.64 billion, the companies said on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant and Sohini Podder in Bengaluru; Editing by Aditya Soni)