Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company, which engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutics for patients facing serious diseases, specifically oncology and infectious diseases. Its product pipeline includes Rezafungin Acetate and Cloudbreak. The company was founded by Kevin M. Forrest, Kevin J. Judice, and H. Shaw Warren in December 2012 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.
Clinical Trials
31
19 active
Approvals
0
Total approvals
Agencies
0
Regulatory bodies
Founded
2012
Active, not recruiting
19
61.3%
Completed
10
32.3%
Recruiting
1
3.2%
Withdrawn
1
3.2%
No approval data available
- Merck is building its next growth phase around a phase III pipeline that has nearly tripled since 2021 and a target of 20 new drug launches by 2030. - The company projects more than $70 billion in non-risk-adjusted commercial opportunity from its current pipeline by the mid-2030s, more than double Keytruda's $35 billion peak consensus estimate. - Merck and Moderna reported the first positive phase 3 result for a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, though detailed efficacy and overall survival data remain pending. - Management expects the Keytruda loss-of-exclusivity period to resemble a shallow dip or hill with a quick return to growth rather than a revenue cliff.
- Pfizer delivers strong Q4 2025 results with $0.66 adjusted EPS beat while maintaining 6.58% dividend yield backed by robust non-COVID portfolio growth including 136% surge in Abrysvo revenue. - Merck reports Q1 2026 earnings dominated by $9 billion Cidara acquisition charge as company accelerates post-KEYTRUDA portfolio development with KEYTRUDA generating $8.03 billion in quarterly revenue. - Both companies face critical patent cliff challenges with Pfizer's $7 billion Metsera obesity acquisition targeting GLP-1 competition while Merck confronts KEYTRUDA biosimilar threats representing 50% of pharma revenue. - Pfizer prioritizes dividend sustainability over buybacks with CEO Albert Bourla announcing approximately 20 pivotal study starts planned for 2026 as part of strategic transformation.
- Merck projects 2026 revenue of $65.5-67.0 billion, falling short of analyst estimates of $67.6 billion due to patent losses on key drugs including diabetes treatment Januvia. - The company reported strong Q4 2025 results with Keytruda cancer immunotherapy driving $8.37 billion in quarterly sales, beating expectations despite a 34% decline in Gardasil vaccine revenue. - CEO Rob Davis acknowledged that legacy products losing patent protection will impact sales more than analysts projected, while expressing confidence in the company's strategic pipeline drivers. - Merck completed two major acquisitions worth approximately $10 billion each in 2025, purchasing Cidara Therapeutics and Verona Pharma to bolster its pipeline ahead of Keytruda's patent expiration.
- Salarius Pharmaceuticals' subsidiary Decoy Therapeutics has partnered with Texas Biomedical Research Institute to conduct in vitro testing of peptide conjugate fusion inhibitors against multiple influenza strains, including H5N1 avian flu. - The company's IMP3ACT platform uses machine learning and AI tools to rapidly design antivirals, with influenza inhibitors showing excellent in silico binding affinity comparable to their proven pan-coronavirus inhibitors. - Salarius aims to develop a single broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutic effective against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, targeting a market responsible for over 10 million medical visits annually in the U.S. - The company plans to advance its lead pan-coronavirus antiviral to IND filing with the FDA within 12 months while progressing other programs including the broad-acting respiratory virus therapeutic.
- Merck & Co. is reportedly close to acquiring Cidara Therapeutics at a premium above its $3.3 billion market capitalization, with an announcement potentially coming as early as Friday. - The deal centers on Cidara's investigational drug CD388, which recently received FDA breakthrough therapy designation for preventing influenza A and B in high-risk patients. - The acquisition structure is expected to include upfront cash payments plus milestone-based payouts tied to clinical trial progress, reflecting common biotech deal practices. - The transaction underscores Merck's strategy to strengthen its infectious disease pipeline and expand next-generation antiviral treatments amid growing market demand for advanced flu prevention.
- Merck has agreed to acquire Cidara Therapeutics for $9.2 billion in cash, paying $221.50 per share to gain access to the biotech's innovative drug-Fc conjugate platform technology. - Cidara's lead asset CD388 is a long-acting antiviral drug designed to prevent influenza A and B for an entire flu season with a single dose, currently in Phase III trials. - The acquisition represents Merck's strategic effort to diversify its pipeline ahead of Keytruda's patent expiration in 2028, following another major $10 billion deal for Verona Pharmaceuticals earlier this year. - CD388 has already received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA and $339 million in federal funding from BARDA to support domestic manufacturing and commercialization efforts.
- FDA veteran Richard Pazdur has accepted the director role at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), replacing George Tidmarsh who left amid conflict with biologics chief Vinay Prasad. - Internal FDA tensions have reached a breaking point, with sources warning of potential mass resignations if Prasad attempts to supersede Pazdur's authority at the drug evaluation center. - Pfizer emerged victorious in the high-stakes bidding war with Novo Nordisk for obesity biotech Metsera, while a separate acquisition battle has erupted between Lundbeck and Alkermes for sleep company Avadel Pharmaceuticals. - The FDA concluded one of the year's most controversial regulatory decisions by adding a black box warning to Sarepta's gene therapy Elevidys for serious liver toxicities and death risk.
- Pharmaceutical and biotech companies across Europe and North America have made significant board appointments, bringing industry veterans and scientific experts to strengthen their leadership teams. - Notable appointments include former CDC Director Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding joining ARTIDIS and former Roche neuroscience head Dr. Paulo Fontoura taking on dual advisory roles. - Companies ranging from clinical-stage biotechs to established pharmaceutical firms are adding expertise in areas including oncology, neuroscience, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial resistance.
- A single injection of CD388, a modified zanamivir antiviral, demonstrated 76% efficacy in preventing symptomatic flu infections in a 5,000-participant Phase 3 trial. - The drug offers months-long protection without requiring immune system activation, potentially benefiting immunocompromised patients who respond poorly to vaccines. - CD388 works against all flu strains and doesn't need annual reformulation like current seasonal vaccines, addressing the challenge of strain-matching variability. - The treatment could serve as an alternative or complement to vaccination, particularly valuable during pandemic preparedness or poor vaccine match years.
- Preclinical data published in Nature Microbiology demonstrates CD388's potential as a universal preventative against all influenza A and B strains, including highly pathogenic variants like H5N1. - CD388, a drug-Fc conjugate (DFC), showed efficacy in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised mouse models, suggesting it could provide protection regardless of immune status. - Cidara Therapeutics is currently evaluating CD388 in a Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial with approximately 5,000 participants during the 2024-2025 flu season.
