Merck to Acquire Verona for $10 Billion

MERCK WILL BUY UK-based Verona Pharma for about $10 billion, the companies said on Wednesday, strengthening the U.S. drugmaker's respiratory treatments as part of efforts to reduce dependence on its blockbuster cancer treatment.

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Keytruda, the world's top-selling drug with nearly $30 billion in revenue last year, is nearing key patent expirations from 2028, and Merck has doubled down on efforts to reshape its portfolio.