Another Cancer Treatment Startup for Merck

Another Cancer Treatment Startup for Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) has been busy this year. After securing a licensing deal with  Cocrystal (NASDAQ: COCP) for proprietary influenza A/B antiviral agents in January, the company found two biotechnology start-ups to bolster its cancer treatment portfolio. First, in February Merck bought Immune Design for $5.85 per share in cash, for an approximate value of $300 million (135.8x trailing 12-month revenue). The target company is a late-stage immunotherapy company employing in-vivo approaches to enable the body’s immune system to fight disease. Through this acquisition, Merck gained Immune Design’s proprietary technologies, GLAAS and ZVex, which are engineered to... Read More »
Merck Buys Immunotherapy Firm Immune Design

Merck Buys Immunotherapy Firm Immune Design

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), the global healthcare and pharmaceutical company, has acquired Immune Design (NASDAQ: IMDZ) for $300 million. Merck will buy all outstanding shares of Immune Design at a value of $5.85 per share. With reported revenue of only $2 million, Immune Design’s price tag equals close to a 136x EBITDA multiple. Out of this deal, Merck will gain key intellectual properties from Immune Design: GLAAS and ZVex. These properties can potentially activate the immune system’s natural ability to generate and expand immune cells to fight cancer and other chronic diseases. The acquisition of Immune Design highlights the demand for immunotherapy platforms and... Read More »