Idera Pharmaceuticals Acquires Aceragen

Aceragen Acquires Arrevus to Expand Late-Stage Rare Disease Pipeline

October 28, 2021

Biotechnology

Aceragen, Inc. acquired clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Arrevus, Inc., adding Arrevus' lead oral anti-infective candidate ARV-1801 (renamed ACG-721) and several preclinical programs to Aceragen's rare-disease pipeline. The deal brings additional clinical and regulatory capabilities to Aceragen and is expected to be accretive as the company advances registrational and Phase 2/3 studies in cystic fibrosis and other orphan indications.

Zevra Therapeutics Acquires Acer Therapeutics

November 20, 2023

Pharmaceuticals

Zevra Therapeutics completed the acquisition of Acer Therapeutics in a stock-and-contingent-value-rights transaction, bringing the FDA-approved product OLPRUVA and clinical-stage candidate EDSIVO into Zevra's portfolio and transitioning Zevra to a commercial-stage rare disease company. The deal included Zevra's purchase of Acer's senior secured debt and issuance of approximately 2.96 million shares plus CVRs (up to $76 million), and was followed by a registered direct offering to a healthcare-focused investment fund.

Merck & Co. Acquires Cidara Therapeutics

January 8, 2026

Biotechnology

Merck & Co., through subsidiary Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, completed a cash tender offer to acquire Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. for $221.50 per share, making Cidara a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition adds Cidara's long-acting antiviral candidate CD388 to Merck's respiratory portfolio and is being accounted for as an asset acquisition.

Novo Nordisk Acquires Dicerna Pharmaceuticals

November 18, 2021

Biotechnology

Novo Nordisk agreed to acquire Dicerna Pharmaceuticals for $38.25 per share, representing an enterprise equity value of approximately $3.3 billion, to expand its RNAi capabilities. The acquisition builds on a 2019 research collaboration and brings Dicerna's GalXC RNAi platform and pipeline into Novo Nordisk to accelerate development of RNAi therapeutics across cardiometabolic, liver and rare disease indications. The tender offer completed in December 2021 and Dicerna is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Novo Nordisk.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Acquires Astria Therapeutics

January 26, 2026

Biotechnology

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals has completed its acquisition of Astria Therapeutics for an implied transaction value of approximately $700 million, financed with cash on hand and a ~$396.6 million facility provided by funds managed by Blackstone plus ~37.3 million BioCryst shares issued to Astria equity holders. The deal adds Astria's Phase 3 long-acting plasma kallikrein inhibitor navenibart to BioCryst's hereditary angioedema (HAE) portfolio and provides Astria's early-stage atopic dermatitis program (STAR0310) for which BioCryst will pursue strategic alternatives.

Roche Acquires Poseida Therapeutics

November 28, 2024

Biotechnology

Roche Holdings, Inc. has agreed to acquire San Diego-based Poseida Therapeutics for $9.00 per share in cash plus a contingent value right (CVR) for up to $4.00 per share, representing an aggregate equity value of up to $1.5 billion. The acquisition will bring Poseida's non-viral gene-editing platforms, allogeneic TSCM-rich CAR-T programs and in-house GMP cell therapy manufacturing into Roche's Pharmaceuticals Division to establish a new core capability in allogeneic cell therapy.