Merck KGaA of Germany announced Monday it will acquire SpringWorks Therapeutics, a Stamford, Connecticut-based bioscience company, in a deal valued at approximately $3.9 billion. The acquisition comes after two months of confirmed "advanced talks" between the companies and represents a significant move in Merck KGaA's portfolio expansion strategy.
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will pay $47 per share in cash, representing a 26% premium on SpringWorks' unaffected 20-day volume-weighted average price of $37.38 per share as of February 7, 2025. The transaction has received approval from both companies' boards of directors and is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to SpringWorks shareholder approval and regulatory clearances.
Strategic Acquisition Enhances Rare Disease Portfolio
SpringWorks, a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on rare diseases and cancer, brings two FDA-approved therapies to Merck KGaA's portfolio. Ogsiveo is approved for adults with desmoid tumors, while Gomekli, which received FDA approval in February, treats adults and children with neurofibromatosis type 1 who experience symptoms from benign tumors.
Belén Garijo, CEO of Merck KGaA, described the acquisition as "a major step in our active portfolio strategy" to position the company "as a globally diversified, innovation and technology powerhouse."
"Beyond this planned transaction, we will continue to explore M&A opportunities across our three complementary business sectors," Garijo added in a statement.
Financial Implications and Market Expansion
Merck KGaA plans to fund the acquisition through a combination of available cash and new debt. The company stated that the business combination will immediately contribute to its revenues upon closing and is expected to be accretive to earnings per share by 2027.
For SpringWorks, which went public in 2019 and was valued at approximately $4 billion when the talks were first announced, the acquisition provides an opportunity to expand beyond the U.S. market and leverage Merck KGaA's global healthcare infrastructure and resources.
The deal comes at a time when SpringWorks' stock has been trading well below its peak of $93.59 in early 2021, during the biotech market boom. Prior to the acquisition announcement, SpringWorks shares were set to open at $44.72.
Broader Industry Context
This transaction represents the first biotech acquisition exceeding $1 billion since mid-January, when Johnson & Johnson agreed to purchase Intra-Cellular Therapies for $14.6 billion. The biotech M&A landscape has been relatively quiet in recent months, with market uncertainty and valuation concerns slowing deal activity.
Merck KGaA, which employs over 60,000 people across approximately 250 companies worldwide, has been actively pursuing acquisitions as part of its strategic growth plan announced last fall. The company's U.S. subsidiary, Merck & Co., recently acquired Yale-spinout Modifi Biosciences, a New Haven startup focused on cancer therapies, in a $1.3 billion deal in October.
The German pharmaceutical firm emphasized that even after this transaction, it will retain "the ability to pursue larger transactions" as it continues to strengthen its position in the global pharmaceutical market and expand its presence in the United States.
