Merck Closes In On Acceleron But BMS And Anti-Trust Regulators Could Be Obstacles

Bidding War May Ensue

Biopharma M&A has had a quiet year so far but could heat up if rivals start vying for the biotech company.

Merck_New_Jersey
Merck & Co has enjoyed huge success with Keytruda, but needs to find ways to reduce its reliance on the blockbuster immunotherapy.

Merck & Co., Inc. is understood to be closing in on an $11bn deal to acquire Acceleron but pharma sector watchers are not ruling out a late bid from rival firms notably Bristol Myers Squibb.

A report from the Wall Street Journal on Monday identified Merck as the frontrunner in the race to acquire the Cambridge, MA based biotech company, rather than BMS as had...

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