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Germany’s Merck Buys Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 Billion
Merck will pay $20 per share, a 130% premium, to add Silence’s siRNA platform and rare-disease pipeline to its specialty medicines business.
On Monday, Merck KGaA announced it will acquire British biotech company Silence Therapeutics in an all-cash deal valued at about $1.3 billion, bolstering its specialty and rare disease medicines portfolio.
Silence develops siRNA, a specialized medicine that acts like a "mute button" for faulty genes inside the body; Merck aims to integrate this technology to treat challenging conditions.
Merck will pay $20 per share for Silence, representing a 130% premium to the stock's last close, with the transaction based on $6.67 per ordinary share and an enterprise value of around $1.1 billion.
Following the announcement, Silence shares climbed 4% in premarket trading, with the all-cash deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2027 subject to regulatory approvals.
Merck CEO Kai Beckmann stated the acquisition will strengthen capabilities to serve patients with targeted specialty and rare diseases, advancing "a differentiated, sustainable pipeline.
The pharmaceutical and technology group is taking the next acquisition under its new boss Kai Beckmann. Merck is to advance the deal in the rare disease business.
The pharmaceutical and technology group is taking the next acquisition under its new boss Kai Beckmann. Merck is to advance the deal in the rare disease business.
The pharmaceutical and technology group Merck acquires a British biotech group. This is intended to boost the business for drugs against rare diseases.