Merck KGaA to Acquire SpringWorks Therapeutics

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Merck KGaA will acquire SpringWorks Therapeutics, a US biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare tumors.¹ According to a press release from SpringWorks, this will allow the company to expand its reach beyond the US, while strengthening Merck KGaA’s presence in the region. The acquisition will also bolster Merck KGaA’s rare tumor pipeline. Springworks’ treatments for adults with desmoid tumors and adults and children with NF1 with symptomatic PN were at the center of the acquisition.

The German company agreed to pay $47-per-share of Springworks, coming to a total of $3.9m billion (however, Springsworks’ reported on hand cash balance brings the enterprise value of the purchase down to $3.4 billion).

In a press release, Merck KGaA CEO and chair of the executive board Belen Garijo said, “The agreed acquisition of SpringWorks is a major step in our active portfolio strategy to position Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany as a globally diversified, innovation and technology powerhouse. For our Healthcare sector, it sharpens the focus on rare tumors, accelerates growth, and strengthens our presence in the U.S. Beyond this planned transaction, we will continue to explore M&A opportunities across our three complementary business sectors, always with a firm focus on strategic fit, financial robustness, and long-term value creation.”

In the same press release, Peter Guenter, member of the executive board and CEO of Healthcare at Merck KGaA, added, “We have the unique opportunity with SpringWorks to establish a leadership position in rare tumors and build a strong foundation for further investments in this area, where a large unmet medical need exists. Together, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and SpringWorks are the perfect combination to improve outcomes for patients with rare tumors and bring therapeutic innovations to more patients worldwide while building on and reinforcing the early success of SpringWorks in the United States. For Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, the planned acquisition will create long term, sustainable growth for our Healthcare business. Along with my successor Danny Bar-Zohar, we look forward to completing this strategic transaction and making a meaningful difference for patients whose lives are so profoundly affected by these complex and challenging tumors.”

SpringWorks’ CEO Saqib Islam also said, “From the outset, our focus at SpringWorks has been to create transformative solutions for patients suffering from serious diseases. We have successfully launched two best-in-class medicines in the United States, and with the aspiration to deliver our therapies worldwide, our journey is at a pivotal juncture. It became clear during our discussions with the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany team that we share many core values, including a commitment to help more patients with rare tumors live longer, better lives. We believe that by joining forces with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, we are not only creating significant, immediate value for our stakeholders, but we will also be able to leverage their resources and expertise to build a brighter future for the patient communities we seek to serve while also creating new opportunities for SpringWorks employees as part of a global organization.”

Source

1. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to Acquire SpringWorks Therapeutics to Accelerate Sustainable Growth of Healthcare Business. SpringWorks Therapeutics. April 28, 2025. https://ir.springworkstx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/merck-kgaa-darmstadt-germany-acquire-springworks-therapeutics