<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="false"><li>Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. is acquiring British lung therapy firm Verona Pharma for $10 billion U.S. to strengthen its respiratory treatment portfolio and diversify revenue sources.</li><li>Merck heavily relies on cancer drug Keytruda, which generated nearly $30 billion U.S. of sales in 2024 but faces patent expiries in 2028, prompting Merck to expand its drug portfolio through acquisitions like Verona Pharma.</li><li>Merck's purchase of Verona Pharma for $10 billion U.S. is the company's largest deal since acquiring Prometheus Biosciences for $10.8 billion U.S. in 2023, marking a strategic move to broaden its chronic lung disease treatment offerings.</li><li>The deal specifies that Merck will pay $107 U.S. per share for Verona, a 23% premium to the stock’s last closing price on the Nasdaq exchange. Verona gained recognition with its lung ailment treatment, Ohtuvayre, for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).</li></ul>

Pharma Giant Merck Buys Lung Therapy Firm Verona For $10 Billion

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