1. Scrip
  2. >>Business
  3. >>Deals

Acceleron Investors Want Merck To Pay More, Ask Company To Wait For Better Offer

$11.5bn Acquisition Values Firm At A 34%-38% Premium

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Avoro Capital, Holocene Advisors and Darwin Global say that Acceleron should sell later for a higher price based on forthcoming data or Merck should raise its bid above $180 per share.

Hand turns a dice and changes the expression "bad deal" to "good deal"
Three investors said they will not sell their Acceleron shares to Merck • Source: Alamy

Three investment firms with significant holdings in Acceleron Pharma, Inc. have come forward to encourage the company’s other shareholders not to tender their shares in Merck & Co., Inc.’s $11.5bn deal to buy the company. Avoro Capital, Holocene Advisors and Darwin Global Management Limited say the acquisition’s $180-per-share price significantly undervalues Acceleron as it awaits Phase III data for its potentially disease-modifying pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) drug candidate sotatercept.

Merck highlighted sotatercept as a drug with blockbuster sales potential that could meaningfully expand the company’s cardiovascular disease portfolio, when...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Deals

Nicox Plots US Submission After Another Phase III Glaucoma Win

 
• By Kevin Grogan

The France-headquartered firm’s eye drop has demonstrated efficacy in a second pivotal trial.

Jazz Seeks Potential Expansion Of Epilepsy Franchise With Saniona Deal

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Deal Snapshot: Jazz, which sells Epidiolex for rare seizure disorders, will pay $42.5m up front to take over development of Saniona’s preclinical Kv7.2/Kv7.3 activator SAN2355 for epilepsy.

Glenmark Fortifying Branded Play, Shifts Focus To High Margin Products

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

Glenmark signals thrust on high margin products, while exiting tail end brands as part of efforts to emerge as a branded company. In-licensed assets like Brukinsa and Tevimbra are seen as pivotal to driving growth alongside.

China-Originated Assets Lead Global GLP-1 Deals

 
• By Xu Hu

The total value of deals for GLP-1-associated assets so far this year is already double that of the previous two years combined, with China-originated molecules accounting for a substantial majority. Scrip takes a look at some of the key factors behind this activity.

More from Business

Celldex Bullish On Barzolvolimab Despite Study Miss

 
• By Kevin Grogan

All eyes on chronic urticaria after eosinophilic esophagitis disappointment.

Glenmark Fortifying Branded Play, Shifts Focus To High Margin Products

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

Glenmark signals thrust on high margin products, while exiting tail end brands as part of efforts to emerge as a branded company. In-licensed assets like Brukinsa and Tevimbra are seen as pivotal to driving growth alongside.

China-Originated Assets Lead Global GLP-1 Deals

 
• By Xu Hu

The total value of deals for GLP-1-associated assets so far this year is already double that of the previous two years combined, with China-originated molecules accounting for a substantial majority. Scrip takes a look at some of the key factors behind this activity.