RNA Pioneer From Berlin-Buch Becomes Part of Merck

German science and technology group Merck is set to acquire UK biotech company Silence Therapeutics in a deal valued at around $1.3 billion. According to information published by the specialist magazine transkript, the acquisition reflects growing interest in RNA interference technologies and their potential in drug development.

A major driver behind the deal is Divesiran, an siRNA drug candidate for polycythaemia vera, a chronic blood disorder. In a Phase II study, 88 percent of treated patients met the study’s primary endpoint, compared with 19 percent in the placebo group. The candidate is expected to move into Phase III development in 2027.

The acquisition also brings an important Berlin research site into Merck’s portfolio. Silence Therapeutics has deep roots on the biomedical research campus in Berlin-Buch, where it was among the pioneers of RNA technologies more than 20 years ago. The company’s Berlin team develops and optimizes siRNA molecules that may later become candidates for preclinical and clinical programs.

Researchers in Berlin work on RNA sequence design, chemical modification, synthesis and biological testing. Their work is closely linked to Silence’s proprietary mRNAi-GOLD platform, which enables targeted degradation of messenger RNA to reduce production of disease-related proteins.

The deal is also seen as another sign that RNA interference is moving beyond a specialist technology into a broader pharmaceutical market. With several siRNA medicines already approved, major pharmaceutical companies are increasingly investing in advanced RNA-based therapies. For Berlin, the acquisition highlights the city’s long-standing role in the development of cutting-edge life science technologies.