AGL 38.30 Increased By ▲ 0.08 (0.21%)
AIRLINK 133.25 Increased By ▲ 4.28 (3.32%)
BOP 8.85 Increased By ▲ 1.00 (12.74%)
CNERGY 4.68 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.43%)
DCL 8.64 Increased By ▲ 0.32 (3.85%)
DFML 39.70 Increased By ▲ 0.76 (1.95%)
DGKC 85.38 Increased By ▲ 3.44 (4.2%)
FCCL 34.84 Increased By ▲ 1.42 (4.25%)
FFBL 75.55 Decreased By ▼ -0.16 (-0.21%)
FFL 12.84 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.16%)
HUBC 109.80 Decreased By ▼ -0.56 (-0.51%)
HUMNL 14.14 Increased By ▲ 0.13 (0.93%)
KEL 5.40 Increased By ▲ 0.25 (4.85%)
KOSM 7.76 Increased By ▲ 0.09 (1.17%)
MLCF 41.20 Increased By ▲ 1.40 (3.52%)
NBP 70.05 Decreased By ▼ -2.27 (-3.14%)
OGDC 194.25 Increased By ▲ 5.96 (3.17%)
PAEL 26.20 Increased By ▲ 0.57 (2.22%)
PIBTL 7.39 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.27%)
PPL 163.85 Increased By ▲ 11.18 (7.32%)
PRL 26.39 Increased By ▲ 1.00 (3.94%)
PTC 19.47 Increased By ▲ 1.77 (10%)
SEARL 84.60 Increased By ▲ 2.18 (2.64%)
TELE 8.00 Increased By ▲ 0.41 (5.4%)
TOMCL 34.00 Increased By ▲ 1.43 (4.39%)
TPLP 8.73 Increased By ▲ 0.31 (3.68%)
TREET 17.15 Increased By ▲ 0.37 (2.21%)
TRG 60.70 Increased By ▲ 4.66 (8.32%)
UNITY 29.00 Increased By ▲ 0.22 (0.76%)
WTL 1.36 Increased By ▲ 0.01 (0.74%)
BR100 10,786 Increased By 127.6 (1.2%)
BR30 32,266 Increased By 934.6 (2.98%)
KSE100 100,083 Increased By 813.5 (0.82%)
KSE30 31,193 Increased By 160.9 (0.52%)

BENGALURU: Merck & Co has agreed to acquire Prometheus Biosciences Inc for about $10.8 billion to bolster the company’s presence in immunology, the companies said on Sunday.

The joint statement said that Merck, through one of its subsidiaries, will pay $200 per share for the biotechnology company that specializes in products for treatment of immunological diseases. That represents a 75% premium to the $114.01 closing price for Prometheus shares on Friday.

Prometheus had a market capitalization of $5.42 billion at Friday’s close.

Merck has been looking for deals to protect itself from eventual revenue loss as patents on its cancer immunotherapy Keytruda begin to expire towards the end of the decade.

“The agreement with Prometheus will accelerate our growing presence in immunology where there remains substantial unmet patient need. This transaction adds diversity to our overall portfolio,” said Merck Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Davis.

The deal, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is expected to close in the third quarter of the year, the companies said.

Merck in February forecast 2023 earnings below Wall Street estimates and an expected steep decline in sales of its COVID-19 antiviral treatment.

Comments

Comments are closed.