Merck Reportedly Lead Bidder In $11B Acceleron Buyout: WSJ

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Merck & Co Inc (NYSE: MRK) is in advanced talks to acquire Acceleron Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: XLRN), citing people familiar with the matter.

• The deal for Acceleron, which has a market value of around $11 billion, could be announced this week, assuming talks don't fall apart, the people said.

• The deal is supposedly Merck's biggest and represents a bet on respiratory and blood diseases treatments.

• A Bloomberg report on Friday said Acceleron was in talks to be acquired for $11 billion.

• Bloomberg had reported that several drugmakers, including Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY), which owns 11.5% of Acceleron's stock, were seen as potential suitors.

• Related Content: Acceleron In Advanced B Buyout Talks: Bloomberg.

• Reblozyl, a hematology product, is jointly co-promoted by Bristol and Acceleron. Bristol Myers has financial claims over Acceleron's products.

• For sotatercept, Acceleron is required to pay Bristol-Myers a royalty in the low-20% range of global net sales if the drug is approved and commercialized to treat PAH, according to Acceleron's 2020 annual report.

• Price Action: XLRN stock closed 6.69% higher at $178.87 on Monday, while MRK stock is down 0.15% at $73.25 during the premarket session on the last check Tuesday.

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