Amgen buys Darkish Blue Therapeutics in $840m oncology deal
Amgen has agreed to amass UK-based biotech Darkish Blue Therapeutics for as much as $840m, making it the primary pharma takeover of 2026.
By this transaction, Amgen will acquire entry to Darkish Blue’s pipeline of oncology property – together with DBT 3757, an investigational myeloid/lymphoid leukaemia translocation 1 and three (MLLT1/3)-targeted protein degrader.
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At the moment in investigational new drug (IND)-enabling research, DBT 3757 is being developed for the remedy of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), with preclinical work having already highlighted its anticancer potential.
In keeping with Darkish Blue, the remedy’s differential mechanism to marketed remedies, in addition to its potential to spice up the sturdiness of AML remission, builds rationale for the drug’s additional improvement, which can be used each as a monotherapy and together with different AML remedy choices.
Amgen’s govt VP of R&D, Jay Bradner, famous that the acquisition would help the corporate’s technique of “investing early into rising medicines” that harness novel therapeutic targets.
Citi analysts echoed this sentiment, noting: “The anticipated integration of Darkish Blue’s analysis organisation into Amgen may additional drive early oncology pipeline power.”
Following this merger, Darkish Blue Therapeutics is anticipated to combine into Amgen’s present analysis division.
Amgen ramps up dealmaking technique
Amgen’s acquisition of Darkish Blue Therapeutics marks the primary M&A exercise the California-based pharma has engaged in since its $27.8bn acquisition of biopharmaceutical firm Horizon Therapeutics in 2023. This places an finish to a deal drought for Amgen, which noticed the corporate signal one licensing and improvement settlement, respectively, in 2024, with no offers of this nature getting the inexperienced mild in 2025.
Amgen seems to be on the dealmaking entrance foot in 2026. A day after saying the Darkish Blue takeover, Amgen revealed it had signed an oncology licensing cope with DISCO Prescription drugs price as much as $618m.
Alongside its actions in oncology, Amgen is eyeing entry into the weight problems phase, an space the place Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have recorded excessive drug gross sales by way of their respective glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs).
Amgen has its personal investigational GLP-1 agonist and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIP) antagonist referred to as maridebart carfraglutide – in any other case often called MariTide.
Whereas GlobalData analysts and key opinion leaders beforehand had excessive hopes for the remedy, calling it a possible “sport changer” throughout the weight problems house, considerations across the drug’s potential to diminish bone density have been raised. Nonetheless, Amgen has refuted these claims, stating that the corporate “doesn’t see an affiliation between the administration of MariTide and bone mineral density adjustments”.
GlobalData is the father or mother firm of Pharmaceutical Know-how.
Regardless of its rocky improvement path, Amgen is advancing MariTide’s late-stage improvement programme.
In keeping with Citi analysts, Amgen’s weight problems pipeline will “stay key to the narrative”.
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