Merck KGaA Agrees to Acquire Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 Billion

Merck KGaA agreed to acquire the U.K.-based biotech firm Silence Therapeutics for approximately $1.3 billion in cash. The German pharmaceutical company will pay shareholders $20 per share, a 130% premium over the last closing price.

The acquisition grants Merck KGaA access to divesiran, an experimental gene-silencing medicine designed to treat the rare disease polycythemia vera. Divesiran is currently preparing for later-stage patient studies. The deal is part of a broader strategy to focus on high-specialization medical needs, following the company's June agreement to acquire Bio-Techne for $11.3 billion.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory clearances, shareholder approval, and sanction from the High Court of Justice of England and Wales. Completion is expected in the first quarter of 2027.