Merck KGaA Clears Major Hurdle for $11.3B Bio-Techne Acquisition

Merck KGaA's stock price is rising after investors approved its $11.3 billion acquisition of Bio-Techne, a major hurdle cleared for the company's biggest deal since 2015.

The clearance of this key obstacle, along with progress on U.S. antitrust approvals, has boosted confidence that Merck can expand into life sciences while funding the purchase with a mix of cash and new debt without disrupting its growth plan.

In related news, Definium Therapeutics is experiencing volatility due to its ongoing funding needs and widening losses as it navigates commercialization of its late-stage drug candidate, which has secured an accelerated regulatory pathway after delivering multiple successful Phase 3 results.