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Merck to buy Verona for $10 billion ahead of Keytruda patent expiration
CNBC Television· 2025-07-09 13:23
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) - Merck is acquiring Verona Pharma for approximately $10 billion to diversify its portfolio beyond Keytruda [1] - The pharmaceutical industry is seeing a trend of companies buying commercial-stage companies, similar to J&J and Sanofi [4] - Companies are willing to be patient and pay more for acquisitions if they have more certainty about the product and its market performance [8] Patent Expiration and Revenue Replacement - Merck faces a $30 billion revenue gap due to the impending patent expiration of Keytruda [2] - The acquisition of Verona Pharma is aimed at plugging this revenue hole [5] Verona Pharma and its Drug - Verona Pharma's drug, launched last year, is for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) [4] - First-quarter sales of the drug reached $70 million [4] - Peak sales estimates for the drug are currently around $4 billion, but could increase due to potential use for other indications like bronchiectasis [6] Market Dynamics and Investor Perspective - The traditional view that companies not acquired before launch are not viable is shifting [7] - Investors should reconsider how they evaluate pharmaceutical companies, as acquisitions of commercial-stage companies are becoming more common [7]
Regeneron shares plunge after mixed COPD drug trial results
Proactiveinvestors NA· 2025-05-30 16:05
Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company has a team of experienced news journalists who produce independent content across various financial markets [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The content delivered by the team includes insights into sectors such as biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all published content is edited and authored by humans [5]