Merck to Acquire Cidara for $9.2 Billion
Key Takeaways
- Merck's acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics for $9.2 billion focuses on CD388, a promising antiviral for influenza prevention.
- CD388, in Phase 3 trials, has FDA breakthrough therapy designation, enhancing Merck's respiratory portfolio.
The agreement brings Cidara’s potential flu vaccine under Merck’s umbrella.
Merck will acquire biotech company Cidara Therapeutics for about $9.2 billion.1 The two companies announced that a definitive agreement had been signed, which will see Merck purchase Cidara shares at a price of $221.50-per-share.
Why is Merck acquiring Cidara?
This will bring Cidara’s lead candidate, CD388, under Merck’s umbrella. The small molecule is reportedly designed to prevent influenza A and B and is currently in Phase 3 studies.
FDA granted CD388 breakthrough therapy designation.
In a press release, Merck’s chairman and CEO Robert M. Davis said, “We continue to execute our science-led business development strategy, augmenting our pipeline with CD388, a potentially first-in-class, long-acting antiviral designed to prevent influenza in individuals at higher risk of complications. We intend to build on the Cidara team’s remarkable progress and are confident that CD388 has the potential to be another important driver of growth through the next decade, creating real value for shareholders.”
Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Cidara, added, “This milestone represents a transformational moment for Cidara and for our mission to redefine influenza prevention. Thanks to the extraordinary dedication of our team, the Phase 2b NAVIGATE study delivered compelling results that demonstrate CD388’s potential to provide an additional option to vaccines and antivirals to help address unmet needs in influenza prevention. Merck’s global development, regulatory and commercial capabilities provide the expertise and resources needed to bring this important innovation to those individuals who need it most.”
Merck Research Laboratories’ president Dr. Den Y. Li also said, “This acquisition expands and complements our respiratory portfolio and pipeline. Influenza continues to pose a significant global health threat, causing widespread illness, morbidity and death each year especially in older adults and immunocompromised individuals, such as those with cancer and chronic diseases. CD388 is a novel late-phase candidate with important strain-agnostic properties being evaluated for the prevention of symptomatic influenza in high-risk individuals.”
This is just the latest agreement designed to expand Merck’s pipeline.
Earlier in November, the company announced an agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences which would see the latter company provide Merck with access to funds to develop sactiuzumab tirumotecan (sac_TMT).2 The investigational ADC is being developed and tested to treat various tumors, including those associated with breast, lung, and endometrial cancers.
In a press release, Merck’s chief financial officer Caroline Litchfield said, “This agreement positions Merck to harness the potential of sac-TMT, a promising ADC candidate targeting TROP2, while we continue to advance our broad and expansive pipeline. We are making important investments to drive patient impact and revenue growth, and to sustain our business for the future while remaining disciplined towards maintaining an appropriate financial profile.”
Dr. Nicholas Galakatos, global head at Blackstone Life Sciences, added, “Sac-TMT is an innovative asset that has the potential to improve patient care across many forms of cancer. We are excited to be collaborating with Merck to realize the full value of this high priority product and contribute to our partner’s revenue growth by leveraging our scale capital and expertise.”
Sources
- Merck to Acquire Cidara Therapeutics, Inc., Diversifying Its Portfolio to Include Late-Phase Antiviral Agent. Merck. November 14, 2025.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251114185276/en/Merck-to-Acquire-Cidara-Therapeutics-Inc.-Diversifying-Its-Portfolio-to-Include-Late-Phase-Antiviral-Agent - Merck Enters into Research and Development Funding Agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences for Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (sac-TMT). Merck. November 4, 2025. Accessed November 14, 2025.
https://www.merck.com/news/merck-enters-into-research-and-development-funding-agreement-with-blackstone-life-sciences-for-sacituzumab-tirumotecan-sac-tmt/
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