Bayer AG Acquires Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio)

Merck KGaA to Acquire Bio-Techne for $11.3 Billion

June 25, 2026

Healthcare Services

Merck KGaA has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Bio-Techne for $73 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at about $11.3 billion (enterprise value). The deal is expected to close in late 2026 or early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and Bio-Techne shareholder approval.

Biogen Acquires Apellis Pharmaceuticals

March 31, 2026

Healthcare Services

Biogen entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Apellis Pharmaceuticals in a ~$5.6 billion cash deal ($41 per share) that also includes contingent value rights (CVRs) tied to SYFOVRE sales performance. The transaction closed in May 2026 and made Apellis a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen, adding commercial products EMPAVELI and SYFOVRE to Biogen’s immunology/rare disease portfolio and strengthening its expansion into nephrology.

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.

Novartis Acquires Vedere Bio

September 30, 2020

Biotechnology

Novartis has acquired Vedere Bio, a Cambridge-based optogenetics AAV gene therapy company, for $150 million upfront plus up to $130 million in potential regulatory and clinical milestones (total consideration of $280 million). The deal includes Vedere Bio's lead preclinical intravitreal AAV programs focused on pan-genotypic vision restoration; earlier-stage assets were spun out into a newly formed independent company, Vedere Bio II.

Astellas Pharma Acquires Xyphos Biosciences

December 26, 2019

Biotechnology

Astellas Pharma has acquired Xyphos Biosciences, gaining Xyphos' ACCEL convertible-CAR technology platform and immuno-oncology talent. The deal included $120 million paid at closing and potential milestone payments bringing the total transaction value to up to $665 million.

TPG Capital and Vida Ventures Invest $225M in Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio)

April 11, 2019

Biotechnology

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio) raised $235 million in new capital, with TPG Capital and Vida Ventures investing $225 million for a minority stake while AskBio’s founders and board co-invested $10 million. The funding will be used to accelerate clinical development and expand manufacturing capabilities, particularly for AskBio’s AAV gene therapy platform and pipeline.