Germany's Merck buys Silence Therapeutics in $1.3 billion RNA drug deal

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1. 1h ago

   Germany's Merck Buys Silence Therapeutics in $1.3 Billion RNA Deal

   German drugmaker Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire British biotechnology company Silence Therapeutics in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $1.3 billion, with an enterprise value of $1.1 billion. Under the agreement, Merck will pay $20 per American depositary share, representing a 130% premium to the stock's last close. The transaction aims to expand Merck's gene-silencing drug capabilities and precision medicines pipeline following Silence Therapeutics' phase 2 blood cancer win. US-listed shares of Silence more than doubled in morning trading, soaring 125%. The deal is scheduled to close in early 2027.

   Why it matters

   The acquisition strengthens Merck KGaA's rare disease buildout and bolsters its RNA technology pipeline. Silence Therapeutics specializes in developing short interfering RNA medicines from its base in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Major pharmaceutical companies are increasingly investing in gene-silencing technologies to expand their precision medicine portfolios.

   What is confirmed

   • German drugmaker Merck KGaA agreed to acquire UK-based Silence Therapeutics in an all-cash deal for about $1.3 billion.
   • Silence Therapeutics shares more than doubled, soaring 125% and trading at $20 per American depositary share.
   • The transaction represents an enterprise value of $1.1 billion.
   • The deal is set to close in early 2027.

   What to watch next

   • Regulatory and shareholder approvals required to close the acquisition
   • The official closing of the transaction in early 2027
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. help.naver.com — Futures Flat As Oil Rebounds After Trump's "Energy Ceasefire" Unravels, Memory Stocks Slide | ZeroHedge
   2. Fierce Biotech — Merck KGaA buys Silence in $1.3B deal after siRNA drug's phase 2 blood cancer win
   3. Reuters — Germany's Merck buys Silence Therapeutics in $1.3 billion RNA drug deal
   4. Barron's — Merck KgaA Is Paying More Than Double for This Gene-Silencing Biotech, Which Is Soaring 125%
   5. Bloomberg — Merck KGaA to Buy Silence Therapeutics for $1.1 Billion
   6. WSJ — Germany’s Merck to Buy U.K. Biotech Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 Billion
   7. FirstWord Pharma — Merck KGaA doubles down on rare disease buildout with $1.3B Silence buy
   8. www.globalbankingandfinance.com — Merck Acquires Silence Therapeutics in $1.3B RNA Drug Deal
   9. www.pymnts.com — CPI | Merck to Buy Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 Billion in RNA Drug …
   10. www.pharmexec.com — Thani Jambulingam, PhD | Authors | PharmExec
   11. cen.acs.org — Business Watch: Covestro cuts polycarbonate operations in Antwerp, and more
   12. www.dcatvci.org — Merck KGaA To Acquire siRNA Specialist Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 Bn
   confidence 95%