Merck to Buy Verona Pharma for Around $10 Billion

Acquisition & Strategy - Merck is acquiring Verona for approximately $10 billion [1] - The acquisition addresses Merck's upcoming patent cliff [1] - Merck aims to compensate for the potential $30-40 billion revenue gap due to KEYTRUDA's loss of exclusivity [2] - Merck is pursuing multiple deals and leveraging its pipeline to offset the revenue impact [3] Product & Market - KEYTRUDA is currently the world's best-selling drug, used for various cancer treatments [2] - Verona has a recently approved treatment for COPD, emphysema, and related conditions [3] - Verona's treatment is estimated to reach mid-single-digit billions in peak sales by the 2030s [3]