The German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA has entered into an agreement to acquire the American biotech company Bio-Techne Corp. for $11.3 billion in the largest deal in more than a decade. This is reported in a press release. Merck.
The value of the transaction is $11.3 billion ($73 per share, which is 24% higher than the closing price on June 24, 2026). The financing of the transaction involves the use of own and borrowed funds.
In 2014, Merck bought out the American chemical manufacturer Sigma-Aldrich for $17 billion and aims to resume growth in all three divisions, including healthcare, biotechnology and electronics, the report says.
Merck is interested in Bio-Techne's developments in the segment of laboratory-made proteins and antibodies that are used to develop potential drugs.
Merck is looking for new sources of growth amid competition from generic drug manufacturers and lower prices for Keytruda. At the end of February, Merck entered into an agreement to acquire biotech company Cidara Therapeutics Inc. for $9.2 billion, and in July 2025 acquired respiratory drug manufacturer Verona Pharma Plc for $10 billion. At the same time, Merck plans to split the main pharmaceutical division into two parts in order to focus on growing business lines.
Merck KGaA is a German multinational scientific and technological company that develops prescription drugs, manufactures laboratory equipment, reagents for laboratories, biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies. The headquarters is located in Darmstadt (Germany).
Bio-Techne is an American company in the field of production and sale of reagents, equipment and services for scientific research, diagnostics and biotechnological research. The headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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