Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
A $1.35 billion all-cash tender offer that gave Merck bomedemstat, an oral LSD1 inhibitor for myelofibrosis and related blood cancers. The deal deepened Merck's hematology pipeline beyond Keytruda, though bomedemstat remained in clinical development with no approval secured.
Merck to acquire Imago for $1.35 billion, bolstering pipeline for drugs targeting bone marrow diseases with LSD1 inhibitor bomedemstat.
Merck announced the successful completion of the cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Imago BioSciences at a purchase price…
Merck today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Imago BioSciences, Inc. for $36.00 per share in cash for an approximate total…
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Merck acquired Imago BioSciences for approximately $1.35 billion ($36.00 per share) in an all-cash tender offer, gaining bomedemstat, an oral LSD1 inhibitor in clinical development for myeloproliferative neoplasms including myelofibrosis.
$1.7B US Myelofibrosis Market (2024) · 66% MF Patients with Spleen Volume Reduction at 24 Weeks
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of chronic blood cancers including myelofibrosis (MF), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and polycythemia vera (PV). These diseases share dysregulated JAK-STAT signaling and abnormal blood cell production. Bomedemstat is a novel LSD1 inhibitor that modulates gene expression in hematopoietic cells, offering a differentiated mechanism from JAK inhibitors for MPN treatment.
Bomedemstat (IMG-7289) showed promising Phase 2 data in myelofibrosis (66% spleen reduction, 65% symptom improvement at 24 weeks) and is being evaluated across ET and PV. As a potential first-in-class LSD1 inhibitor for ET, it addresses an indication with few treatment advances. Merck acquired Imago for $36/share ($1.35B) in November 2022 to strengthen its hematology pipeline.
Merck completed $1.35B acquisition of Imago BioSciences ($36/share), gaining bomedemstat, oral LSD1 inhibitor for myelofibrosis and ET.
Merck initiated Shorespan-007, a pivotal Phase 3 trial of bomedemstat vs hydroxyurea in ~300 treatment-naive essential thrombocythemia patients (announced Aug 27, 2024), alongside the Phase 3 Shorespan-006 trial in hydroxyurea-intolerant ET. The LSD1 inhibitor also continues Phase 2 study in myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera and AML and holds FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations for ET and MF — the lead asset has reached registrational stage, de-risking the acquisition thesis.
Bomedemstat advancing Phase 3 with differentiated MPN mechanism. $1.35B reasonable for pivotal-stage hematology asset. Awaiting data.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merck & Co. Inc. / Imago BioSciences Inc. (this deal) | 2022 | $1.4B | 60 |
| 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: 2022 deals · Merck & Co. Inc. deals · Hematology deals