Silence Therapeutics plc

Sitara's lead drug blocks an ion channel called TRPV4 for a severe form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, with a Phase 1b study planned by year end.

And a bit of context from two weeks ago, Merck KGAA agreed to buy Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 billion, a premium of about 130% for an RNA interference drug for polycythemia vera.

Closing is expected in the first quarter of next year.

Looking ahead, watch whether the FDA's gene therapy framework firms up, because it could reshape how developers approach genetic rare diseases.

In hematology, back to a deal from last Monday.

Merck KGAA, the German company rather than Merck & Co., signed an all-cash agreement to acquire Silence Therapeutics.

The equity value is $1.3 billion, with an enterprise value of about $1.1 billion.

The lead asset is Divisorin, a Phase II siRNA drug in polycythemia vera, a rare blood disorder.

And IBT has now benefited from its ninth portfolio company being taken over this year.

Actually, a UK based company, although listed on Nasdaq, this one called Silence Therapeutics, and it's being bought by Merck for 1.3 billion US dollars.

What's interesting here is that the premium paid was enormous.

It was 130% over the prevailing share price before the bid.

I'm Daphne Zohar, and my co-hosts today are Mack Lein, Eric Schmidt, Chris Garabedian, Brad Loncar, Sam Fazeli, and Josh Schimmer.

We're also joined by special guest Ali Mortazavi, former CEO of Silence Therapeutics, which was in the news this week.

For more information about our hosts and guest speakers or to listen to the most recent episode, please go to biotechhangout.com. And I think, Ali, can you go on mute, please? Thanks.

Today is the 200th recorded episode of Biotech Hangout, with the first recorded episode five years ago in December 2021, and that was with Chris, Brad, and I hosting.

And then actually moving to the positive side, we have Ali here.

And we did have an M&A transaction this week with Merck KGAA.

Acquiring Silence Therapeutics are announcing they're going to acquire Silence Therapeutics for 1.3 billion cash, which was about 130% premium over the last closing price.

And it took me back to that first episode five years ago.

So that's more than the whole of 2025.

So Silence Therapeutics was taken over by Merck.

And we spoke to Elsa and Merrick a few weeks back, didn't we, which was very interesting.

yeah do you know i keep i'm still kicking myself i've got to buy shares in that that is such a winner um talking of uh corporate activity and takeover we finally got an agreed bid today for um ashton technology at so uh final cash offer six pound fifteen the shares closed yesterday at five pound thirty so a nice bump and look if you own the stock at three quid where it was trading before there was any whisper of a bid, then you've doubled your money, which is very nice.

And dealmaking, it's not just for China.

We had a great deal out of German Merck this morning, a billion dollar deal, buying the UK's Silence Therapeutics.

Stephen, you took a quick look at this.

Yeah, so I mean, sticking to the SIRNA theme, this is one of the older SIRNA companies that have been around for a long time, but finally getting their takeout.

Notable losers, Deere & Co., Whirlpool Co., DTE Energy, Domino's Pizza, and General Motors.

Biggest gain today, Silence Therapeutics PLC gained 125%.

Biggest decline, INLIF LTD down 87%.

That has been WMKT's Market Watch.