Merck & Co. Acquires Cidara Therapeutics

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.

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.

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.

Idera Pharmaceuticals Acquires Aceragen

September 28, 2022

Biotechnology

Idera Pharmaceuticals completed an all-stock acquisition of Aceragen, a privately held biotech focused on rare pulmonary and rheumatic diseases, adding Aceragen's lead programs ACG-701 and ACG-801 to Idera's pipeline. The transaction was structured as a stock-for-stock exchange, includes management appointments from Aceragen, and is expected to provide pro forma cash runway into Q3 2023 while advancing Aceragen's clinical milestones.

Merck Acquires Acceleron Pharma for $11.5 Billion

September 30, 2021

Biotechnology

Merck has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Acceleron Pharma Inc. for $180 per share in cash, representing an approximate total equity value of $11.5 billion. The acquisition brings Acceleron's late-stage sotatercept program (for pulmonary arterial hypertension) and its REBLOZYL portfolio into Merck's cardiovascular pipeline, subject to tender offer completion and customary regulatory approvals.

Merck Acquires Caraway Therapeutics

November 21, 2023

Biotechnology

Merck (MSD) will acquire Caraway Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts–based preclinical biopharmaceutical company, for up to $610 million in potential consideration, including an undisclosed upfront payment and contingent milestone payments. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Merck’s research pipeline and capabilities in developing small-molecule treatments for genetically defined neurodegenerative and rare diseases.