Merck KGaA to acquire Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 billion, adding Phase-2 RNAi drug for polycythemia vera

Merck KGaA announced it will purchase UK‑based Silence Therapeutics for about $1.3 billion, paying $20 in cash per share, representing a 130 % premium.

The deal gives Merck control of an RNA‑interference therapy that has shown positive results in a Phase 2 trial for polycythemia vera, a rare blood disorder.

Analysts note the candidate, called divesiran, could compete with Takeda’s and Protagonist’s drug Mimrylo as well as existing treatments such as Incyte’s Jakafi, and may have blockbuster potential.

Shareholders holding roughly 14 % of Silence have already signed off, and Merck expects the transaction to close in the first quarter of 2027.