Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Merck acquired ArQule for $2.7B for BTK inhibitor ARQ 531.
Merck to acquire ArQule for $20 per share approximately $2.7 billion advancing leadership in oncology with novel BTK inhibitor ARQ 531.
Merck completes acquisition of ArQule on January 16 2020 gaining clinical-stage oral kinase inhibitors for B-cell malignancies treatment.
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Merck acquired ArQule for $2.7B (closed January 2020) for its lead asset ARQ 531, a reversible, non-covalent BTK inhibitor now developed as nemtabrutinib (MK-1026). As of late 2025 the asset has advanced into multiple registrational Phase 3 BELLWAVE trials in CLL/SLL (incl. a head-to-head BELLWAVE-011 vs ibrutinib/acalabrutinib), though it remains pre-approval with no pivotal efficacy readout.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merck & Co. Inc. / ArQule Inc. (this deal) | 2019 | $2.7B | 58 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Acceleron Pharma Inc. | 2021 | $11.5B | 90 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Peloton Therapeutics Inc. | 2019 | $2.2B | 88 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / AstraZeneca PLC | 2017 | $8.5B | 87 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Moderna, Inc. | 2022 | $250M | 86 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Moderna, Inc. | 2016 | $250M | 84 |
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Eisai Co., Ltd. | 2018 | $5.8B | 83 |
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More: 2019 deals · Merck & Co. Inc. deals · Oncology deals