BREAKING NEWS: Merck & Co. has just announced a major acquisition, agreeing to buy Cidara Therapeutics for approximately $9.2 billion. This strategic move aims to enhance Merck’s antiviral pipeline with the promising Phase III drug CD388, specifically designed to prevent influenza in high-risk individuals.
Cidara’s lead candidate, CD388, utilizes a unique long-acting antiviral mechanism aimed at offering universal prevention against both seasonal and pandemic influenza strains A and B. Currently under investigation in the Phase III ANCHOR trial (NCT07159763), CD388 is targeting adults and adolescents at elevated risk for influenza complications.
Robert M. Davis, Merck’s chairman and CEO, expressed confidence in the acquisition: “We intend to build on the Cidara team’s remarkable progress and are confident that CD388 has the potential to be another important driver of growth through the next decade.” This acquisition follows Cidara’s recent success in its Phase IIb NAVIGATE trial, which reported a 76.1% prevention efficacy against symptomatic influenza in participants receiving the highest dose.
The NAVIGATE trial demonstrated compelling results, with participants receiving a single dose of CD388 showing significant effectiveness over a period of 24 weeks. Importantly, this new development comes at a time when Merck is actively seeking to replenish its portfolio, as several blockbuster drugs face impending patent expirations.
Cidara has also been awarded up to $339.2 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to support CD388’s manufacturing in the U.S. This funding, along with CD388’s FDA Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations, positions the drug for rapid advancement in the market.
Enrollment for the ANCHOR trial, which aims to include 6,000 participants, is currently underway at 150 sites across the U.S. and the U.K. The first participants were dosed in September, with an anticipated interim analysis set for the first quarter of 2026 to assess the need for additional enrollment.
Merck’s acquisition of Cidara not only expands its respiratory portfolio but also serves as a critical step in recouping revenues from its aging blockbuster drugs, including Keytruda® and Gardasil®, which are on the brink of losing patent protection. Investors reacted positively to the news, with Cidara’s shares surging over 105% following the announcement, closing at $217.71.
Through its subsidiary, Merck plans to acquire all outstanding shares of Cidara at $221.50 per share, representing a significant 109% premium to Cidara’s previous closing price. Both boards have approved the deal, which is expected to finalize in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory reviews.
Jeffrey Stein, Cidara’s president and CEO, emphasized the significance of the merger, stating, “This milestone represents a transformational moment for Cidara and for our mission to redefine influenza prevention.”
Stay tuned as this developing story unfolds, with potential implications for public health and the pharmaceutical industry at large.
