M&A
Merck KGaA acquires Silence Therapeutics in $1.3B siRNA blood cancer deal
Biotech
M&A
Key Facts
Signal Type
M&A
Industry
Biotech
Companies
Merck KGaA, Silence Therapeutics, Takeda, Protagonist Therapeutics, AstraZeneca
Date
Merck KGaA acquired Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 billion in cash, paying $20 per share—a 130% premium. The deal gives Merck full rights to divesiran, a siRNA therapy that showed 88% response rates in a phase 2 polycythemia vera (PV) trial. Merck plans to accelerate phase 3 development and leverage Silence's broader siRNA pipeline, including zerlasiran for cardiovascular disease.
The acquisition reshapes the PV treatment landscape. Takeda and Protagonist Therapeutics face a new competitor after their Mimrylo drug gained FDA approval in August 2026. AstraZeneca and Hansoh Pharma, which previously exited collaborations with Silence, are now on the sidelines. For sales teams, Merck's rare disease unit and Merck's newly expanded pipeline team are the primary targets for clinical, regulatory, and data software solutions.
Watch for Merck's phase 3 trial design and enrollment speed—key data points for vendors of patient recruitment software. Also monitor whether Merck pursues external partnerships for zerlasiran after previous partner exits. The competitive response from Takeda, including potential label expansions or pricing strategies, will shape the market opportunity for competitive intelligence platforms.
Source:
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