Oct 19, 2026 —
Merck KGaA has agreed to acquire UK-based Silence Therapeutics for about $1.3 billion, buying its way into RNA interference (RNAi) medicine. The lead asset has posted positive Phase 2 data in the rare blood disorder polycythemia vera.
RNAi drugs use small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence disease-causing genes, a modality that has matured quickly, mostly in liver-expressed targets. The deal terms imply a roughly 130% premium to Silence’s share price.
The acquisition is part of a busy stretch for RNA-medicine dealmaking, as larger drugmakers move to secure siRNA platforms and pipelines.