Industry
Merck KGaA agrees to acquire Silence Therapeutics and its RNA drug pipeline
Merck KGaA’s deal includes divesiran, an experimental treatment for polycythemia vera that Silence plans to test in Phase 3.
Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire Silence Therapeutics, adding its RNA drug pipeline and experimental treatment divesiran to Merck’s portfolio. The reports give different values for the deal: MedCity News puts Silence’s equity value at $1.1 billion, while BioPharma Dive and Endpoints News describe the buyout as $1.3 billion.
Divesiran is being developed for polycythemia vera, a blood disorder that causes the bone marrow to produce too many red blood cells. MedCity News reported that Silence’s Phase 2 study found an 88% response rate with divesiran, compared with 19% for placebo. Silence said it plans to test dosing every 12 weeks in a Phase 3 study, which it expects to begin in the first half of 2027.
The deal still needs approval from Silence shareholders and regulators. MedCity News reported that the companies expect to complete it in the first quarter of 2027. The companies did not report a different timeline in the other available coverage.
