Merck KGaA Agrees $1.3B Silence Therapeutics Acquisition
The all-cash deal adds an RNA-interference platform and a late-stage rare blood-disorder treatment to Merck’s drug pipeline.
Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire Silence Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion in equity value and $1.1 billion in enterprise value.
What happened
The acquisition adds Silence’s short interfering RNA platform and divesiran, an experimental treatment for polycythaemia vera that is approaching late-stage clinical development. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to shareholder, court and regulatory approvals.
Why it matters
RNA interference can silence disease-causing genes rather than only treating downstream symptoms. Acquiring both a technology platform and a late-stage programme gives Merck a quicker route into specialised genetic medicines.
The bigger picture
Large pharmaceutical companies continue to buy focused biotechs to replenish their pipelines. Platforms that can generate multiple drug candidates are especially attractive because their value may extend beyond a single lead asset.