Merck Acquires Acceleron Pharma for $11.5 Billion

Merck & Co., Inc. Acquires VelosBio Inc.

November 5, 2020

Biotechnology

Merck & Co., Inc. will acquire all outstanding shares of clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company VelosBio for $2.75 billion in cash. The acquisition adds VelosBio's lead investigational antibody-drug conjugate VLS-101 and ROR1-directed pipeline assets to Merck's oncology portfolio and is expected to close by the end of 2020, subject to customary conditions.

Merck to Acquire Harpoon Therapeutics for $680M

January 8, 2024

Biotechnology

Merck has agreed to acquire clinical-stage immunotherapy company Harpoon Therapeutics for $23.00 per share in cash, representing an approximate total equity value of $680 million. The acquisition gives Merck access to Harpoon's TriTAC / ProTriTAC platforms and lead candidate HPN328 (a DLL3-targeting T‑cell engager) to enhance its oncology pipeline; the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to customary conditions.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals to Acquire Remaining Stake in Akcea Therapeutics

August 31, 2020

Biotechnology

Ionis Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire the approximately 24% of Akcea Therapeutics it does not already own for $18.15 per share in cash, implying a fully diluted transaction value of about $500 million. The deal will be executed via a tender offer followed by a second-step merger, and Ionis expects to complete the transaction in Q4 2020 to consolidate Akcea's pipeline, commercial products and cash while realizing cost synergies.

Merck Acquires Pandion Therapeutics

February 25, 2021

Biotechnology

Merck will acquire Pandion Therapeutics for $60 per share in cash, representing an approximate total equity value of $1.85 billion, via a tender offer and subsequent merger. Pandion is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on precision immune modulators (TALON platform) with lead candidate PT101 targeting regulatory T cells for autoimmune diseases; the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021 subject to customary conditions.

Amgen Completes Acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics plc

October 6, 2023

Biotechnology

Amgen completed the acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics plc for $116.50 per share in cash, valuing the transaction at approximately $27.8 billion. The deal expands Amgen's inflammation and rare-disease portfolio by adding Horizon's medicines (including TEPEZZA, KRYSTEXXA and UPLIZNA) and strengthens Amgen's biologics R&D, manufacturing and global commercial capabilities.

Merck Acquires Prometheus Biosciences for $10.8 Billion

June 16, 2023

Biotechnology

Merck has agreed to acquire clinical-stage biotechnology company Prometheus Biosciences for $200.00 per share in cash, representing an approximate total equity value of $10.8 billion. The acquisition strengthens Merck's immunology pipeline by adding Prometheus' precision-medicine platform and lead candidate PRA023 (MK-7240) for inflammatory bowel disease and other immune-mediated conditions.