Merck & Co. has announced a deal to acquire Cidara Therapeutics for nearly $9.2 billion. This acquisition grants Merck access to Cidara’s experimental long-acting antiviral drug, CD388, which has the potential to serve as a single-dose, universal prevention against all influenza strains.
The move is part of Merck’s strategy to diversify its revenue sources as patents for its blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda, are set to begin expiring later this decade. Since 2021, the company has significantly expanded its late-stage development pipeline, nearly tripling its size through a combination of in-house research and strategic acquisitions. Recent major deals include the $11.5 billion purchase of Acceleron in 2021, which brought the pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Winrevair into its portfolio. In July, Merck also completed a $10 billion buyout of UK-based Verona Pharma, gaining Ohtuvayre, a newly approved treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often referred to as “smoker’s lung.”
